When you have a car, you must have insurance for it – and when you pay for insurance, that’s how the company makes its money. Now, paying claims after an accident, that’s what hurts their profit margin. There can be a tussle with your carrier when an accident happens.
When that happens, there are steps that you need to follow to ensure that your claims are paid. You may be one of those who doesn’t know how to deal with your insurance company after an accident. Below is how you can deal with them and get the total value of your claim.
Gather Evidence
You need to start by gathering evidence, and you need to gather as much as you possibly can. The more evidence you have, the stronger your claim is when it comes to insurance. You need to have photo evidence, take notes, and even witness statements if you can.
It would help if you also documented every aspect of the accident as best as you remember it. If there’s no evidence to prove fault, you won’t get the total value of your claim. If you’re to pursue the claim’s real worth, ensure you have enough proof stocked up.
Keep Records
The next thing you need to do is keep the records from any communication and transaction after the accident. This should majorly be the record of communication between you and your insurance.
The other records you need to keep are You also need to keep documents on repair estimates, the police report safely. After you have filed with your insurance company, you need to have your copies.
Clear Communication
Honesty is the best policy when dealing with your insurance company after an accident. Whatever you say to your adjuster can and will be used against you – this will be used to deny you coverage. It can also be used to reduce your claim or prove negligence.
It would help if you thought long and hard before any conversation you have with your insurance adjuster. Ensure that all communications are clear and straight to the point. Above all, do not admit fault when communicating with the insurance company, and neither should you make any accusations.
Only provide the facts and details about the accident. Any other question that you cannot answer or are uncomfortable with should be referred to your attorney.
Don’t Sign Anything Without Your Lawyer Present
When you meet with your insurance adjuster, you should never sign anything that you are offered. As stated above, when insurance companies pay claims, they don’t make profits. They will try as much to weasel out of paying with any means possible.
First, you need to understand that they will try to get one over you by offering compensation for physical injuries. There’s also some guarantee they’ll pay for medical bills, loss of income, and car repairs too. What they avoid is compensation for emotional damages.
You have legal standings to pursue this case, though – emotional damages caused by accident. At times when you sign documents, these are the types of claims they want to get over. You will likely sign off documents that limit your legal rights.
Never sign any document in front of you without an attorney present. If they can’t be present, you need one to at least review the paper for you before signing. It will help you pursue the total value of your claim when your attorney advises you to sign or not.
Get A Lawyer
If you don’t have a lawyer, you need to get one before things get messy. Insurance companies aren’t in the business of making losses, and that’s what paying claims is to them. You will need a lawyer to walk you through the whole process for it to be smooth.
Your lawyer will always have your best interest at heart, and that’s why you need one. One of the law firms is Brooks Law Group that specializes in these cases. You can be sure they have been there before and know exactly what to do about every step.
And since you have all the evidence and the facts, the lawyer will only pursue the case with points. You will quickly get the total value of your claim with a lawyer to walk you through it.
After your accident, you need to follow up with the proper channels to get the total value of your claim. Suppose you don’t, the insurance company will find a way to get one over you and deny your claim. These are some of the things you need to do when dealing with insurance companies after an accident.
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