When you’ve been involved in an accident, the first thing that happens is that your insurance adjuster will contact you. You’ll have a few days to get medical treatment if necessary and then you’ll probably be contacted by an adjuster from either party’s insurance company (the person who is responsible for paying for the damages). It can be scary at first–especially if this is your first time talking with an insurance adjuster–but there are things that you can do to help make their job easier. Here are some suggestions:
You should call the insurance company and ask for a callback. Tell them you want to speak with someone, and then ask when would be most convenient for them to call back (e.g., within one hour). If possible, try to schedule this call at least 24 hours in advance so that you can try not feeling rushed or stressed out during their conversation with you.
Tips for Talking With the Other Side’s Insurance Company
The first call with an adjuster is a critical one. It can help you determine if the other side’s insurance company is willing to work with you, or if they’re looking for a fight. Here are some tips for talking with the other side’s insurance company:
Be polite, but also firm and confident. Your attitude should be respectful, but without being condescending—you need to keep your cool in these situations so that no one gets offended by how things are handled (and this can lead to bad feelings). You want them on your side!
Be patient too—it may take awhile before they’ll respond back because they’re busy with other matters at this point in time; don’t give up hope.
Be respectful of the other person’s time and feelings, even if you don’t agree with them at all times.
Be honest with yourself and others involved in this process as well as any other parties involved in helping resolve any claims made after accidents involving automobiles (including drivers). You should always tell the truth even if it means hurting someone’s feelings because everyone deserves honesty at all times – especially when dealing with insurance companies after accidents where damages were incurred due to negligence by either party involved.
Give Only Limited Personal Information
The first thing you should do is to give only a limited amount of personal information. You don’t want to give any details about your own injuries or the accident, nor do you want to provide any contact information for witnesses or anyone else involved in the crash.
If possible, try not to even mention that there was an accident at all—you can say instead that someone cut in front of your car and caused damage before leaving the scene.
This may seem like it would be difficult for most people because most accidents involve vehicles colliding with other vehicles or objects; however, it’s actually very easy if done correctly!
Give No Details of the Accident
Don’t give any details about the accident to either side.
You’ll want to keep your personal information private, so don’t tell anyone who you are and what insurance company you have. Your contact information should also be kept private and not given out until after you’ve spoken with an adjuster from that company. If there’s any chance that another party may try to use this information against you in court, it’s best not to share it at all – even if they promise not do so (which they won’t).
Give No Details of the Injuries
Now that you’ve described your injuries to the adjuster, it’s important to make sure you don’t give any additional details.Don’t say anything that can be used against you. For example, if someone has a broken ankle and fractures their other leg, they might want to know how many bones were broken so they can file a lawsuit against whomever caused the accident (the driver or their own insurance company). It’s best not to mention this detail because it could be damaging for both parties involved in an accident when one party files a lawsuit against another person who broke their ankle in an accident caused by someone else driving recklessly.
Resist the Push to Settle Immediately
It’s important to resist the urge to settle. Your first call with an adjuster after an accident can be stressful and confusing, so it’s natural for you to want to make things go away as quickly as possible. This is especially true if your claim has been denied or if you don’t know what else needs doing—but don’t give in! Everyone involved in this process needs time and space to think through their options before making any decisions.
Refuse to Give Recorded Statements
The first thing you should do is refuse to give a recorded statement. You have the right to refuse, even if it means that your insurance company will be without liability for damages in the accident and you’ll have no choice but to pay them out of pocket.
However, there are exceptions: if someone has subpoenaed or arrested you for something unrelated to the accident (like lying about their name) then they can ask that they receive a recorded statement.
In the end, the insurance adjuster is there to make sure that everyone gets paid. That’s a job that can be difficult for people to handle on their own, so it’s important that you give as much information as possible and stick to your guns when it comes time for negotiations. If someone is pressuring you into making a quick decision about a case or settlement amount, don’t be afraid to turn them down—and keep in mind that if you’re dealing with an unscrupulous adjuster. Who doesn’t care about your well-being, they might take advantage of the situation by getting something out of it anyway.
We understand how difficult life can be after an accident and that is why at LPC Law, our team of expert Peterborough injury lawyers are here to discuss your case. Call us at(705) 243-3685 and let’s get started.