10 rules for dealing with insurance companies after you have been in a car accident

10 Rules for Dealing with Insurance Companies:

1.  You do NOT need to give a recorded statement, so don't!  There's a good reason insurance companies record statements, and you can bet they do it to help deny claims not to help pay them.  If you are represented by a lawyer, ask the insurance company to contact your lawyer to obtain any information they need.

2.  Unless you decide to go it alone NEVER sign any document which is sent to you by the insurance company until your lawyers tells you to do so.  A typical dirty trick is to ask the victim to sign a release in order to obtain a check for the property damage to the car:  what the adjuster doesn't tell you is that the release waives any claim for your bodily or personal injuries!

3.  File or register your claim quickly with each insurance company that might provide coverage for any person involved in the accident.  If you are involved in an accident with multiple serious injuries, there may not be enough insurance to go around.  If you have not filed your claim and the insurance limits are paid to someone else, you may not be able to recover your damages.

4.  Do your homework to find all possible sources of insurance coverage including car insurance, personal health insurance and/or worker's compensation insurance.  An important place to look is in all of the insurance policies for any person living in your household which may be a source of important "uninsured mortorist" coverage.

5.  Anytime you are called by an insurance company, write down the name, address and phone number of the insurance adjuster and the insurance company.  You'd be surprised how frequently my clients have not obtained this information and it has delayed the claims process.  )If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in the Norfolk, VA area the insurance companies will do their best to limit the benefits you receive for your injuries. (I have given a reminder concerning these points in a handy form that you can copy and have ready to use when these calls come in.)

6.  When the adjuster asks you about your injuries, tell them the general ara but refuse to give details.  Tell them that you are getting treatment from your doctor and that you will be happy to provide complete details about your injury after your doctor has released you from his/her care.

7.  Here are some things that you do not have to answer to tell the insurance adjuster and you can politely put them off if they ask:

     a. questions about your job, time off from work, how much money you have lost

     b. questions about other family members, including any injuries they received or insurance they may have

     c. names and contact information for your doctor(s)

     d. names and contact information for witnesses

8.  Remember that you can ask questions of the adjuster as well.  Ask them what other witnesses they have interviewed and what they said!

9. NEVER agree with the adjuster on any statement that they ask you to.  For example, "Well, it sounds like you are not very seriously injured, wouldn't you agree?"  Another important expample is, "Well, it sounds like you are at least partially at fault, wouldn't you agree?"

10.  Remember, insurance companies are not your friend!  Every year insurance companies take in $230 billion of insurance premiums.  They typically pay out as much as half of that in claims.  No surprising, insurance companies make more profits when they pay less money.  For a complete article on how hard insurance companies work, click here.

FORM:

Name of adjuster:

Telephone number:

Address:

Insurance:

-any witnesses you are aware of to the accident: