If you’ve recently been in a car accident, or have been injured at work or on someone’s property, you likely received a phone call from their insurance company very soon afterward. The person who called you is known as an insurance claims adjuster. They will likely seem friendly, helpful, and like any other customer service representative, but it’s important to understand their role and their goals before you agree to talk to them and cooperate with any of their requests. In this article, we’ll go over a few misconceptions that people often have when interacting with insurance companies and how to avoid the potential pitfalls that can result.
- You Don’t Have to Rush to Talk to Insurance Adjusters After an Accident
Insurance claims adjusters will likely put a lot of pressure on you to talk to them as soon as possible after an accident. However, the rush is not real. It is advisable to take your time to get full and complete information about your medical condition, the cost of repairs to your vehicle, and the full details of the accident, before you speak with a claims adjuster. In fact, they are pressuring you to talk to them so soon because they are hoping that you have not had a chance to do exactly that. They have a much higher chance of getting you to accept a low settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries and damages. Also never feel pressured to talk to insurance agents while you are frazzled, disoriented, distracted, or on medication. It is far better to wait until you are in an alert, aware headspace. Even if they threaten to close your file if you don’t talk to them, know that this is an empty threat. Your file can be opened again at any point up until the statute of limitations expires.
2. You Don’t Have to Provide a Medical Release
This will likely be presented as a standard part of the process, but providing a medical release has almost no benefit to you and you do not have to agree to do so. This will give them access to five years of your medical history which they will use to try and prove that any injuries were pre existing and not the result of the car crash.
3. You Don’t Have to Give a Recorded Statement
Adjusters will also present this casually and as a normal part of the process. However, their goal in proctoring a recorded statement is to use it against you. Claims adjusters are trained to ask questions in a way that will trip you up, make it sound like you are admitting fault, or give them a basis on which to later deny your claim. Particularly if you talk to them before you have consulted with a lawyer or have full information about your injuries and medical condition, you may make statements that can later be used to deny you coverage.
Talk to a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in a Pennsylvania car accident, you do not have to navigate the insurance process alone. Schedule a free initial consultation with the personal injury attorneys at the O’Donnell Law Offices serving clients in Kingston, Wilkes Barre, Hazleton and Pittston at 570-821-5717 or online today. There is no fee or costs until we win your case.