Getting into a car accident can be a distressing experience, both physically and emotionally. Besides dealing with injuries and vehicle damage, you may also have to navigate the complicated process of dealing with insurance companies. Hiring a lawyer can make a significant difference in your case and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
There are numerous details that you need to handle in the immediate days after a car accident. The last thing that you want to do is deal with anything other than your physical health when you have suffered an injury. However, you must engage in the legal process to an extent, especially if you plan to seek financial compensation or file a claim or lawsuit.
You will have to report your accident to the insurance company. This conversation can be difficult because what you say can impact your legal right to financial compensation and even how much money you may receive in a settlement check. The best thing is to avoid as much of this conversation as possible on your own, instead hiring a car accident lawyer in Bakersfield to speak to the insurance company on your behalf. A skilled lawyer understands the intricacies of insurance policies and can effectively communicate and negotiate with insurance companies.
Since this conversation must happen shortly after the crash, you should retain a car accident attorney as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may make a mistake that can compromise a potential car accident claim before filing it. You do not have to worry about how you will afford a car accident attorney because they will never ask you to pay them anything out of your own pocket.
You Will Need to Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
You need to contact your car insurance company shortly after the accident; not doing so can put you in a challenging legal position. First, you should review your policy to see how long you have to report an accident. Usually, you will make the initial report the same day as the accident if you are physically able.
Even though it may be some time before the insurance companies determine liability, your insurance company may need to pay some expenses related to your accident. If you do not plan on paying out of your pocket (which you should never do if you paid for a car insurance policy), you must contact your insurance company because it may make arrangements on your behalf. Your car insurance company may cover some or all of your medical expenses in the interim before you resolve your car accident claim.
The other driver’s insurance company may also contact your insurance company and may already be preparing a strategy to evade or defeat your claim to the fullest extent possible. You need your insurance company to know what happened because your policy requires that they step into your shoes.
Either way, your policy may even impose an obligation on you to report an accident within a certain amount of time after it has occurred. This timeframe may coincide with your recovery from physical injuries and your emotional state. It may not help your case to handle a detailed conversation with the insurance company on your own when you are struggling both physically and mentally.
You Should Not Talk About Specific Details of the Accident with Your Insurance Company
Insurance companies may ask you for details about what happened during the car accident, and you need to be careful about saying anything they may consider official. You may have yet to process what happened during the accident. It will help to refrain from speaking about it until you have had a chance to collect yourself and calm down after the adrenaline has passed. This process can take several days or more after the accident. The most important thing is to never speculate about the accident because once you speak the words, they are impossible to take back.
One of the main problems you may face is that your insurance company may share your statement with the other driver’s insurance carrier. Then, your own story can hurt you because the other insurance company will quickly run with anything they think can benefit their position.
You may decline to answer direct questions about the car accident and opt to give a written statement, and you can work with a car accident lawyer to prepare it. The advantage of a written statement is that you can control your message and eliminate the possibility of responding imprecisely to any questions. You never know when a single word that is out of context can harm your case.
Never Offer Your Opinions About What You Think Happened
If you talk to your insurance company about the accident (something that an experienced car accident lawyer will advise you against), avoid discussing your opinion of what caused the accident. You should also refrain from speaking about your injuries because you likely do not know yet how badly you have suffered an injury or your prognosis. If you say something as simple as “I’m ok,” your insurance company or the other driver’s carrier can take that out of context to imply that you are not injured.
Never Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
The insurance adjuster from your company or the other driver’s company may try to call you to ask about the accident. Insurance companies commonly use this tactic to ambush a claimant who still needs a car accident lawyer. You should employ the same approach with an insurance adjuster who tries contacting you. If the adjuster is from the other driver’s insurance company, you should politely decline to talk to them.
Only your attorney should speak with the other driver’s insurance company; otherwise, you can harm your claim. Nothing good ever comes from a conversation with the other driver’s insurance company because you will not persuade them of anything yourself. If you are speaking to your company’s adjuster, stick to only basic facts about the accident.
You Cannot Even Trust Your Own Insurance Company
While paying your insurance company premiums, never assume that insurance companies are your friends because their interests differ from yours. They want to make as much money as possible, and they will cast you aside in a second if it is to their advantage.
Insurance companies can even turn against you in a second when they realize they may owe you money. If the other driver does not have enough insurance coverage, or if they did not have a policy in the first place, your own insurance company will need to fill the gap. Your company can be on the hook for a lot of money it wants to avoid paying. The information you give can be used against you when it is financially convenient for the insurance company.
You Need to Prove Negligence to Win Any Car Accident Case
No matter what, you need to prove negligence to win a car accident case. Whatever you say to any insurance company can completely deny your claim. Moreover, your insurance company may rely on what you say when it huddles with the other insurance company to determine liability for your accident.
If you say anything when you are in the throes of car accident trauma or when you are not entirely sure about what happened, it can complicate any future car accident claim. You may think that you are just being open and transparent, and it may be shocking to hear your own words used to deny your claim or even blame you for the accident.
Let a Car Accident Lawyer Handle the Details of Your Claim
Calling and speaking with your insurance company about the substantive details of the accident is just one of the many things you should entrust to your car accident lawyer. On your own, you may not know what you should and should not say to insurance companies. For example, you should stick with only the facts and not speculate about anything you conclusively do not know. It may gravely complicate your claim if you say anything remotely indicating that you were partially at fault.
The best way to deal with details is not to do it at all and entrust them to someone who fights for car accident victims daily. The more you try to do yourself, the worse of a position you may find yourself in when you try to seek compensation for your injuries.
Car Accident Lawyers Can Communicate with the Insurance Company
A car accident attorney knows how to deal with insurance companies, what to say to them, and how to advocate on your behalf effectively. It is best to avoid dealing with any insurance company on your own, given that your ability to obtain financial compensation and how much you can get depends on what you say.
You can trust a car accident lawyer to perform all necessary tasks in the claims process. Your case has many details, and you do not have the knowledge or experience to handle them yourself. Also, you are not at your sharpest if you are dealing with injuries. You need legal representation and someone speaking on your behalf during this critical time, and an attorney will advocate for you as you seek financial compensation for your injuries. There may be multiple communications with the insurance company, and you should take yourself out of the picture to the fullest extent possible.
Do Not Waste Any Time in Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer for Your Case
Since many things happen after a car accident, and you cannot deal with them independently, you should immediately hire a car accident attorney. A car accident lawyer will get paid the same percentage of your case as a contingency fee no matter when you hire them, so it makes sense to allow them to do as much work as possible to spare you both the stress and risk. Controlling your message from the beginning of your case is vital to the success of your potential claim.
It Is Not a Financial Lift to Hire a Car Accident Attorney
Car Accident Lawyer, Mickey Fine
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and attorneys working to protect their interests and minimize their payouts. As an individual, it can be challenging to negotiate with these well-trained professionals and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. That is why having a lawyer by your side levels the playing field.
If you think you need to come up with money to hire a car accident attorney, you can think again. The only things that you need to do to retain a car accident attorney are to call for a free initial consultation and sign a representation agreement that agrees to a contingency fee arrangement, where your car accident attorney gets paid a percentage of the proceeds of your case if and when you win.
You do not need to spend money to obtain an experienced fighter on your side who can deal with both your insurance company and that of the other driver. If you do not hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible, you may miss out on the compensation you deserve.
Hiring a lawyer also means that you have an experienced professional who understands the intricacies of insurance law. They will handle all the complex paperwork, communicate with the insurance company, and negotiate on your behalf. Your attorney can alleviate the stress and burden of dealing with the insurance company directly, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Navigating the world of insurance companies after a car accident can be overwhelming, especially if you are dealing with injuries and emotional trauma. Hiring a personal injury lawyer in Bakersfield specializing in personal injury law can significantly ease this burden and increase your chances of obtaining fair compensation. They will fight for your rights, handle the complex legalities, and ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Remember, you do not have to face insurance companies alone – a lawyer can be your advocate during this challenging time.