Tips on Working with Insurance Companies

If you have been involved in an automobile accident, it is advisable to contact your car insurance company as soon as possible to provide them with details of the event.  If the other driver involved follows the same advice, you may very well receive a call from their insurance company before you have the chance to contact an attorney for advice.  If you are still shaken up from the accident, you may inadvertently say something that could have a negative impact on your claim in the future.  Below are some tips to consider when speaking with the other driver’s insurance company.

• Take thorough notes.  You will want to write down the name of the adjustor you are speaking with, the name, address, and telephone number of the insurance company, and the claim number, if one has been assigned.
• While you may be feeling angry and inconvenienced after the accident, you should remain calm when speaking with the insurance agent.  It is important to remember that calls such as this are recorded for later review, and if you speak in anger, your personality could be mischaracterized later on.
• Limit the personal information you provide on the initial phone call.  Your name, address, and telephone number should be all the insurance company truly needs at this point.  Do not engage in conversations with the agent that will reveal more than this.
• Do not discuss anything beyond the basics of the accident with the insurance company. These would be where and when the accident took place and what vehicles were involved. Politely refuse to give more details beyond this, and be extremely careful not to say anything that implies fault on your behalf.
• Give the insurance adjustor general information regarding your injuries, but state that you do not fully understand the extent or severity of your injuries at the moment.  It can take time for injuries resulting from an accident to reveal themselves.
• Never give a recorded statement unless your attorney is present.