If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you will need to talk with insurance companies. Here are a few tips for dealing with insurance companies after an accident. Remember, if the process becomes too overwhelming, you can contact a car accident lawyer to handle the process for you.
Tip 1: Have your police accident report ready. The police report contains vital information that an insurance company uses to determine who was at fault in the accident.
Tip 2: If you call the other driver’s insurance company before hiring an auto accident attorney, obtain a claim number but do not allow them to record a statement. In California, a phone conversation cannot be recorded without your consent, and a recorded statement could hurt your claim
Tip 3: Get written authorization. If possible, it is best to obtain prior authorization from the insurance company before seeking medical treatment, repairing your vehicle, or renting a replacement car. Have the insurance company send this authorization to you in writing via fax or email.
Tip 4: Don’t forget to contact your own insurance company. It is important to contact your insurance company even if the other driver is at fault, especially if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. You may need to revert to your insurance coverage if the other driver’s insurance company offers an unreasonable settlement.
Tip 5: Be aware of insurance companies’ motives. Because insurance companies answer to shareholders, they try to maximize profits by limiting the amount they pay out.
Tip 6: Get professional help. If you get overwhelmed, or you are not getting the results you deserve, get help from professionals who are experts at dealing with insurance companies — experienced car accident attorneys.
You can obtain a free download of a book by car accident attorney John P. Burns named 9 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Car Accident Case to learn more about this and related car accident issues.
At the Law Offices of John P. Burns, we effectively handle your car accident claim so you can focus on recovering emotionally and physically without dealing with the details. It’s free to ask questions, so contact us directly at 949-496-7000, or email us at john@johnburnslaw.com. We’ll be sure to get back to you within 24 hours.