How the Insurance Company Will Try to Close Your Car Accident Case Before it Even Starts
Haste is almost always expensive. This is true for a number of reasons, not the least of which is big decisions require both reflection and counsel.
One of the biggest decisions anyone can make is how to deal with a traffic accident. The average person likely has little experience in such matters. The problem is the company that holds the insurance policy on their car and on them personally usually does little else. Insurance companies are very good at saving money for themselves, and if given the opportunity, they often do their job at their customer’s expense.
Some of the means by which insurers reduce their expenses are both legal and ethical. Other times, they may try to trick a driver into settling their car accident case early and hurting themselves financially in the process. Here are some things to look out for.
Your Statement
Your insurance company is going to try and get you on the record as early as possible. If they can develop evidence the accident was your fault, or that there was some other circumstance that can get them off the hook, they will pursue it regardless of how it may affect your coverage. Your adjuster is going to want to record this statement so it can be used against you later.
By and large, you should avoid making any statement to your insurance company until enough time has elapsed you can prepare yourself properly. Your best option is to retain the services of a qualified attorney and have them make a statement to your insurance company on your behalf. This does three important things for you.
First, it guarantees no sensitive information will be divulged while you are fulfilling your legal requirements under both the law and your policy. Second, it gives you a defense to probing and potentially unfair questions because anything you’ve told your attorney is privileged. Third, it gives you knowledgeable counsel so you can plan your response in advance. These things are tremendously important.
The Quick Settlement
Insurance companies are well aware of how people feel about getting paid right now. A settlement check symbolizes the opportunity to just put the whole ordeal behind you and move on to something more pleasant. What the settlement check conveniently leaves out of the equation is the fact that you might be getting ten cents on the dollar if you’re lucky.
When this check arrives, the fact it is your settlement for the entire accident may or may not be clear. You may even find out endorsing the check and putting it in the bank will foreclose on all your future rights to compensation for your injuries, damage to your car or the ability to recover damages from other drivers. This can all be done by a single signature on the back of a check if you aren’t careful.
Again, this is an area where being in a hurry will naturally lead to a major problem for you and your family. While it probably isn’t necessary for you to retain the services of an accountant, the car accident attorney you hired to represent you in front of your insurance company should be called in to take a look at anything your insurance company sends you in writing, including any settlement offers. It could very well be the difference between getting what you paid for with all those premiums and ending up with nothing.
Medical Records
This is where insurance companies go from aggressive self-interest to insidious. One might conclude the reason an insurance company wants access to your medical records is so they can fairly measure the extent of your injuries.
Or, they might be looking for some justification for claiming you were impaired, already injured or taking some kind of medication that can be blamed for the accident. Talk with your doctor before you take the drastic step of giving any insurance company access to your medical information. Like your attorney, your doctor is bound by doctor-patient privilege and is not permitted to divulge any details of your medical conditions without your permission.
The last people in the world who should have access to your medical records is an insurance company.
Most people simply don’t have the experience to deal with these kinds of situations, so it is in your best interests and in the best interests of your family to retain the services of a qualified attorney as early in the process as you can. You will find he or she will not only be a source of strength for you during a difficult time, but will also be able to guide you with useful advice.
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