Tips for Speaking to Your Insurance Company After a Car Accident
If you were involved in a car accident, one of the first steps you need to take is to contact your insurance company. There are many reasons that you will want to do this even if you were not at fault for the crash that occurred.
The sooner you inform the insurance company about the accident, the sooner they can begin the claims process. However, you pay extra careful attention to the wording you use during your conversation. You don’t want to accidentally say something that could get your claim denied.
Remain Calm
It’s understandable that you’re upset and overwhelmed. A car accident is a very traumatic event. However, you should try to keep your composure while you talk to your insurance company. If you allow your emotions to take over and are impolite toward the insurance adjuster, it can make things more difficult. The adjuster may be put off and less likely to make your claim a top priority. On the other hand, if you’re courteous, the adjuster may go out of their way to help you.
Provide Information About the Other Driver
During your initial conversation with your insurance adjuster, they will ask you several questions regarding the car accident. You want to make sure that you provide all available information about the crash and other driver. It could very well be the case that you do not yet have a copy of the Police Crash Report that identifies everyone involved and gives a diagram of what the responding police officer believes happened. But you likely have an information exchange form that the police officer involved. Give that information to your insurance adjuster, including the name of the other driver, their insurance company, and the name of the police officer.
Provide Notice For All Coverage
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Your own insurance policy may provide coverages that you can rely upon after a crash. You might have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that you need to rely upon if the other vehicle or driver was not adequately covered. You may have collision or comprehensive coverage that can cover the damage to your own vehicle even though another party was at fault. If you use that coverage, your insurance company will then undertake the hassle of trying to recoup their expenses, or subrogate, the claim from the party that was at fault. You may also have a form of coverage known as medical benefits payments. This can provide coverage or help defray the costs associated with getting medical treatment for any injuries you sustained. That brings us to our next point.
Don’t Say That You Feel Fine
It’s not uncommon for people to feel perfectly fine after a car accident. The adrenaline from the collision can often mask pain or at least a few days. Even if you feel okay right now, you should avoid saying that to your insurer. It’s best to have a doctor examine you before you talk to your insurance company about your condition. You may find out that you actually were injured and require medical care.
Avoid Taking Any Blame
When you talk to your insurance company about the accident, you should avoid taking any fault. Even if you think you’re at least partially to blame for the collision, there may be mitigating factors. It’s best to leave it up to the authorities to investigate the accident and determine who is truly at fault. If you admit to any blame, you may be incorrect because it may be the case that your mistake was not what caused the crash. Because of that, your insurance rates could go up or your coverage could be dropped.
Say No To Being Recorded
If your insurance company asks if it’s okay to record the conversation, realize that you’re allowed to say no. If you’re feeling a little nervous about speaking to the insurer, it may be best to not have the initial conversation recorded.
Speaking to your insurance company for the first time after a car accident can be a little nerve-wracking. However, if you follow these tips, it can make the process a little easier.
Call us today if you would like help recovering from the other driver’s insurance policies.
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