Accidents are devastating. Whether it’s a car crash or a motorcycle accident, you can face severe injuries, large medical bills, and/or lost wages that can create uncertainty about your future. The first step toward resolving an auto accident is to notify your insurance carrier immediately, especially if there were any damages to your vehicle or if you sustained any injuries. Your insurer may be able to provide you with financial compensation for your accident; however, don’t be tempted to accept the first settlement offer. Insurance companies, unfortunately, prioritize their bottom line over your well-being.
After sustaining an injury, you can be sure that you’ll receive a call from a representative with several questions for you regarding the crash. To protect your best interests, you may want to hire a Beverly Hills car accident attorney to represent you. They may be able to intervene and deal directly with insurance adjusters so you can avoid accidentally hurting your claim.
What Questions Will My Insurance Company Ask after an Accident?
Insurance companies will ask you several questions because they need to know who is liable for the accident. Once they determine liability, they can assess how much compensation you should receive. Some common questions representatives ask include:
- Where did the accident occur?
- Were there any passengers in the vehicle?
- Who was driving?
- What are the primary factors that led to the accident?
- Were you injured?
- Did you call the police?
- Were you wearing a helmet at the time of the accident?
- Were you wearing a seatbelt?
Every accident is unique. Therefore, representatives may ask different questions. For example, a representative won’t ask someone in a bicycle accident if there were other vehicle passengers, nor would they ask a driver if they were wearing a helmet when the crash occurred.
How to Talk to Insurance Representatives
The first person you’ll speak with will likely be a claims adjuster. Their job is to assess the claim by interviewing the victim, other parties involved, and witnesses, and they will also refer to police and hospital records for more information. You should keep a few things in mind when speaking to a representative for the first time, especially if you have yet to contact an attorney.
Remain Calm and Be Polite
You may still have anger over the accident, but lashing out at the adjuster won’t help your claim. Being nice to them may pay off in time, but don’t be overly friendly or talkative. If you are, you risk revealing details that could be used to hold you liable.
Obtain the Adjuster’s Contact Information
Before you discuss anything, obtain the adjuster’s name, work address, phone number, and the name of the company they work for.
Provide Limited Information
At this time, you don’t have to go into detail about the accident. Insurance adjusters may try to have you make a statement about the accident, or they may even engage in small talk to make you feel more comfortable.
You can tell them where and when the accident occurred, the type of accident, and whether other vehicles were involved, but don’t divulge more than that. Be sure to tell them that your investigation is ongoing and you will discuss more information once it’s completed.
Additionally, do not give any details about your injuries. You may accidentally leave a symptom out, and some injuries may not show until a few days or weeks after the accident. If you’re unsure of how to communicate with adjusters, you may direct their inquiries to your attorney.
Reach Out to a Skilled California Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury accidents affect millions of people every year in California, and victims are often shocked at how little insurance companies want to pay them. Unfortunately, they may compensate you less based on your answers to their questions. Your best approach is to avoid making any statements until you speak with an attorney.
An expert personal injury attorney at Setareh Law can help you understand the questions they ask and how to prepare for them. Our attorneys will fight for you to receive fair and just compensation for your personal injury accident. We provide high-quality legal representation and will support your best interests throughout your entire claim.
Call (310) 659-1826 or complete an online contact form to schedule a free consultation.