Were you in a car wreck and have questions about handling car insurance companies? Read these 3 car accident insurance tips, then call us.
1. Stalling Insurance Companies
Some people think that handling an accident case on their own is a smart idea, until they start dealing with stalling insurance companies. If you have been injured, contact our team of Buffalo personal injury lawyers to get you the compensation you deserve.
The one thing I tell all of my clients is to remember that all insurance companies are in business for one thing, and that’s to make money. When you try to deal with an insurance company by yourself – and despite the fact that the individual on the other side of the telephone call sounds like they have your interest in mind, they do not. These insurance carriers are reporting to boards of directors and shareholders, and the one thing they need to report on is profitability.
If you are trying to handle your case yourself, I would advise you to stop doing so. Contact an attorney that knows what they’re doing and understands the idiosyncrasies of these insurance companies. That attorney will make sure that it’s your interests that are best represented, as opposed to the interests of some shareholder of some very large corporation.
Following an auto accident, an insurance company may try to contact you. The insurance company’s goal is simple — to minimize the cost to the insurance company. Insurance companies have little regard for the well-being of injured victims, and they will do everything possible to protect their interests — even when that means asking victims to sign documents or statements without having an attorney review them, or trying to convince victims to agree to a settlement much lower in value than they deserve.
2. Auto Accident Insurance Adjuster
I encourage clients to have absolutely no communication with any insurance company after an automobile accident — even the insurance company of the vehicle they were in at the time of the accident — if the accident were two-vehicle or multi-vehicle. Insurance adjusters are trained to obtain information from subscribers. In an automobile accident, one’s insurance company is supposed to pay the medical bills, wage loss, and incidental expenses, and companies want to avoid this. In the contracts that subscribers have with their insurance companies, the companies are entitled to hire independent medical examiners who screen subscribers following an auto accident, analyze medical records, and make a determination as to whether or not the subscribers are entitled to get any further treatment. These insurance companies are probably not hiring doctors who would side with the subscribers over the companies in instances like these.
The reason why I tell my clients not to talk to insurance adjusters at all is because my clients can be recorded; insurance representatives are going to take notes on all conversations with subscribers after an auto accident. Even though the representatives may sound pleasant and accommodating on the phone, and even though they may claim to have the best interests of subscribers in mind, they do not. They work for insurance carriers, and those insurance carriers have a duty to their shareholders. The way that insurance companies make more money is by paying less on claims, and if representatives can obtain information from subscribers that can potentially weaken claims, they will do so — even though they may smile and use honeyed words. There is no benefit to contacting or talking with the insurance adjusters. My office takes care of first consultations for all of our clients.
3. Car Accident Insurance Investigation
The first thing that I tell clients, or potential clients, when they contact me with respect to any accident – whether it’s an auto accident, slip and fall, any accident whatsoever – is to please refrain from talking to any insurance company regarding either how the accident happened or the injuries that you may have sustained. It’s really important to know and understand that despite the fact the insurance company may seem like they are on your side, and they may have very polite and friendly adjusters contact you initially, those insurance carriers are in the business of paying as little money as they can for any claim. While you’re giving them information regarding your claim, they’re taking notes. Rest assured, the notes that they’re taking are going to be used against you. It’s very important to refrain; do not talk to any insurance company at any time. Those communications should go strictly through your lawyer.
The Buffalo Personal Injury Attorneys at Andrews, Bernstein & Maranto, PLLC fight for the rights of persons who are injured or disabled. We approach each case on an individual basis and personally assist each client with their unique needs. We are involved in every step of the legal process, and ensure that each case receives the time and effort necessary for success.
Download Our Free Auto Accident Guide
Were you or a loved one involved in a car wreck and have questions about handling car insurance companies? Check out these 3 car accident insurance tips for guidance, then call our Buffalo Car Accident Lawyers for a free legal consultation and case evaluation.
Like us on Facebook