Should I Talk to an Insurance Adjuster After a Car Accident?
If you have been injured in a car crash you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than two million people are injured each year in car accidents. This high number of injuries has a sizeable associated cost, most of which is paid out by automobile insurance companies. If you have been in an automobile accident, there is a good chance that an insurance adjuster will call you soon afterward and ask you for a recorded statement. Your next thought is likely something like: Should I talk to this person?
The answer to this question is almost always NO. While you should be polite, you should also understand that it is almost never in your best interest to share a lot of information with an insurance company – at least not without the help and guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Why Should I Avoid Conversing With an Adjuster on My Own?
- The insurance company operates by working against, not for your interests. The insurance adjuster who calls will likely be nice and friendly and may even present an offer that sounds nice in light of mounting medical bills. However, insurance companies like to make money and keep it, not award it in insurance settlement payments to injured accident victims like you. While Florida is unique in that you can even recover compensation from your own insurance policy, it is still better to obtain the help of an attorney before conversing with the adjuster – which represents a large company that has its own attorneys – so that you are on a level playing field.
- You might accidentally say too much. We all know that even a seemingly innocent statement can cause colossal damage. It is also imperative that you understand that the insurance company will specifically look for you to say make admissions against your interest that can be used against you later. Even a simple statement such as “I’m doing fine”, “I just looked at my phone for a second”, or “I am sorry” can be used to shift fault in a way that can prevent you from being able to obtain the compensation you deserve.
- You probably don’t know the value of your claim. No matter how good it may sound, any amount offered initially by insurance adjuster is probably far less than what your claim is actually worth. In addition to your medical bills, keep in mind that you may have future expenses as well as lost wages from work. You may also be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.
Take the Next Step in Protecting Yourself.
It may seem like a good idea to converse with an insurance adjuster after the accident, but it’s better that you don’t. We understand how easy it is to make a simple mistake that can undermine your chance at being awarded damages even as you suffer from the aftermath of injuries incurred in a traumatic car accident. Instead of taking the unnecessary risk of conversing with the adjuster which could affect your ability to recover, you should obtain the help of an experienced legal team that has proven results and isn’t afraid to fight for your rights. Contact the experienced Orlando personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm today and we will fight the insurance adjusters for you and ensure that you recover the compensation you are entitled to.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Tampa, Jacksonville, Bradenton, Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
cdc.gov/vitalsigns/motor-vehicle-safety/index.html
https://www.pendaslaw.com/the-new-federal-campaign-intended-to-help-combat-drugged-driving/
