When you are involved in a car accident, it can be one of the most traumatic experiences you ever had. There is a good chance you will sustain one or more injuries due to the accident. Depending on how severe the accident is, you may also suffer emotional and mental damages. The impact of the accident can be felt through various areas of your lives.
After being involved in an accident, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. After seeking medical attention, you will also want to file a claim with your insurance provider. We know this can seem like a difficult uphill battle to climb, but it is a necessary part of you being compensated for your injuries and the damages to your vehicle.
If an insurance adjuster calls you after the accident, contact a member of the Swor & Gatto team. We can go over your case and protect you from being taken advantage of by an insurance adjuster.
Question:
What should I do if the other driver’s insurance adjuster continues to call me? Should I speak to the adjuster? Should I speak to a lawyer first?
Answer:
If you were injured in an auto accident and have plans to pursue an injury claim against the driver who was responsible, you should not talk to the other driver’s insurance claims adjuster. The insurance adjuster wants to talk to you before you hire a lawyer to represent you.
After you have hired a lawyer, the insurance adjuster will not be able to legally speak to you. The insurance adjuster also wants to obtain as much information from you as possible. If you share information with the insurance adjuster, that information can be used against you.
What Does The Insurance Adjuster Want From Me?
The insurance adjuster wants to obtain a statement from you. The insurance adjuster wants to discover how you viewed the accident. If you tell a different story of how the accident occurred, they will use the fact that you made two different statements against you. For example, one month you tell the insurance adjuster that you have leg pain due to the accident.
In a couple of months, you are diagnosed with a shoulder injury due to the impact of the accident. The insurance adjuster will try to prove that the shoulder injury is not a result of the accident because you did not mention the injury a couple of months ago.
The insurance adjuster wants to get as much information out of you as possible in regard to your medical history. The insurance adjuster also wants to find out if you have been involved in any other accidents and injury claim. When you have a lawyer, your lawyer will not allow you to speak to the insurance adjuster because of your privacy rights.
The insurance adjuster is not calling you because he or she wants to help you. The insurance adjuster wants to make a case that the injuries you claim were a result of the accident were injuries you had previously.
The insurance adjusters are aware that some of the worst injuries may not present themselves immediately after the accident. Insurance adjusters want to settle a case as soon as possible, and that is why they want to talk to you immediately after the accident. If the insurance adjuster can offer you a settlement in the very beginning, they will save themselves a significant amount of money.
What If I Accept The Offer?
If you are offered a settlement that you accept, you will soon discover that the amount they offered will not cover everything you need. If you accept the offer from the adjuster, the agreement you signed will prevent you from requesting additional compensation.
The insurance adjuster wants you to accept the offer or make a statement that will justify their future settlement offer. Do not accept an offer or make any decisions without the assistance of a trusted and experienced lawyer.
When you are involved in an accident, we understand that you will experience a variety of thoughts and emotions. We encourage you to talk to a personal injury lawyer before you make any decisions. If you have been injured in an accident, please do not hesitate toย contact usย for a consultation.