Immediately following a car accident, it’s important to focus all your attention on your health and overall well being.
Once you know that you are on the right path to making a recovery, you can turn your attention to details regarding the accident itself. This often means that you will be in contact with your insurance company.
While it’s important to inform your insurance company of your accident, there are things that you absolutely need to avoid:
- Don’t provide a written statement or give a recorded statement unless you know exactly what you are doing. Anything you say to your insurance company can be used against you in the future.
- Don’t accept the first offer you receive. Insurance companies are notorious for low balling customers as a means of putting the claim in the past as quickly as possible. You need to be aware of this.
- Don’t sign anything. You never know what you will be asked to sign. Even if you review the document, you may still have questions. It’s best to consult with an attorney before you put your name on anything.
- Don’t accept any money. When you accept a check that is marked as “final” it means that you are unable to receive any additional compensation in the future. Don’t do this until you are sure that you’re ready to accept a final payment.
- Don’t let your insurance company push you around. Once you review your policy and understand the coverage, you should hold your insurer to this. You have been paying for your policy, so don’t settle for anything less.
It’s easy to make a mistake when it comes to a car insurance claim. You may find yourself in a hurry to get through the process as it’s causing a lot of stress.
Although this is a difficult time in your life, you want to be patient to ensure that you are making the right decisions. Don’t do anything that will tip the scales in favor of your insurance company.
