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Car Accident Claims: 6 Facts to Know about Dealing with Insurers (Pt. 2)

On Behalf of | Sep 25, 2014 | Blog, Car Accident Insurance Claims, Car Accidents

Continuing from where we left off in Car Accident Claims: 6 Facts to Know about Dealing with Insurers (Pt. 1)¸ here we will point out some more important things people should be aware of when it comes time to submit car accident claims to their insurers.

Fact 3 – What claimants say to insurers when making car accident claims is critical.

When submitting car accident claims to insurers, people should be aware that what they say could later be used against them. Call us for more info and help getting the compensation you deserve after car accidents.

When submitting car accident claims to insurers, people should be aware that what they say could later be used against them. Call us for more info and help getting the compensation you deserve after car accidents.

Although people involved in traffic collisions should make car accident claims with their insurers as soon as they can after a wreck (as discussed in the first part of this blog series), it’s also crucial that claimants are aware that their reports to insurers:

  • Will be documented and may even be recorded
  • Can be used against claimants to try to reduce or even deny their car accident claims.

Specifically, if people end up admitting they caused traffic accidents or that they may have even partially caused a collision, insurers can use these statements against claimants later to undercut or flat-out deny their claims. Therefore, it’s essential that people:

  • Only discuss the facts of the accident with insurers when making or talking about car accident claims
  • Do NOT ever admit any blame for possibly having caused the accident
  • Do NOT get baited by insurers to accept fault in the accident
  • Know they can respond to insurers’ questions with “I don’t know” or “I can’t answer that”
  • Refer insurers to their attorneys who can answer all of the insurance company’s questions while still protecting people’s rights and car accident claims.

Fact 4 – Insurers may try to prolong their investigations of car accident claims to try to compel claimants to accept lower settlements.

By law, insurance companies are required to conduct and conclude their investigations of car accident claims in a timely manner. Despite this legal requirement, however, some insurers may still intentionally try to draw out their investigations of car accident claims in order to try to:

  • Gain the upper hand in settlement negotiations by increasing claimants’ financial stresses after accidents
  • Force claimants to agree to accept lower settlements than they deserve simply because they need money immediately (for things like medical bills and/or car repair bills).

When claimants find themselves waiting a really long time (like months) before they’re offered settlements for their car accident claims, these people should consult with an experienced car accident attorney to find out what their options are for getting the payouts they need and likely deserve.

Make sure to check out the conclusion to this blog series for some final important facts you should know about car accident claims and dealing with insurers.

Montgomery and Birmingham Car Accident Attorneys at Joe Reed & Associates, LLC

After a car accident, you can count on the Montgomery and Birmingham car accident lawyers at Joe Reed & Associates, LLC to be aggressive advocates for your rights. For more than 16 years, we have been dedicated to the pursuit of justice in every case we oversee.

By trusting us to represent you, you can rest assured that our skilled and dependable Montgomery and Birmingham car accident attorneys will build you a strong case, will stand up for your rights at every step of the legal process and will work relentlessly to resolve your case as favorably as possible.

Let’s Talk – Contact Us

To schedule an initial consultation and learn more about your rights, call us at 334-834-2000, or email us using the contact form at the top of this page. Initial consultations are free in most cases, and evening and weekend appointments are available for your convenience.