After a car accident, you’ll need to seek medical care for your injuries. Then, you’ll need to talk to the insurance company about providing compensation to cover these costs. In California, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will be responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
However, insurance companies will try an array of tactics to lower the amount of your claim. San Jose Car Accident | Caputo & Van Der Walde, LLP advises that you protect your interests. The insurance adjusters are tasked with protecting the company’s bottom line but these tips will help you negotiate with them to get the money you deserve.
Initiate Your Claim as Soon as Possible
A successful auto accident claim will require strong evidence to support it. The longer you wait, the less likely you will be to find crucial evidence to prove the other driver caused the crash. Take photos and videos at the accident scene and document everything. You should also speak to witnesses and get the police report, which you can submit with your car crash claim.
Never Say Anything That Could Be Construed as an Admission of Fault
When you speak to the insurance adjuster, you should never say anything that implies fault. Some adjusters may try to partially blame you for the crash to lower their payout. It’s often best to contact an attorney who can use the evidence and investigation to prove the other driver is at fault.
Stick to the Facts
Opinions about the accident are mere speculation and nothing more so it is best to stick to the facts. One of the tactics insurance adjusters use is to get you talking more about the accident to find statements they can use against you.
Know the Estimated Value of Your Claim
When you are in the process of negotiating with the insurance company, it helps to have an estimate of your claim’s value. Insurance companies know that most people do not think about these things. They typically make a quick offer knowing that the majority of accident victims will accept it. Unfortunately, the injured parties pay the price when they discover that the amount they have accepted isn’t enough to cover all the expenses they incurred as a result of the crash.
Reject the First Offer
An insurance adjuster will never give you the best offer up front. The smartest move you can make is to have an attorney look over the offer first before accepting it. They will most likely tell you to reject it and calculate the true value of your claim.
Let Your Attorney Do the Negotiating
The best way to negotiate with the insurance adjusters after an accident is to leave it in the capable hands of a personal injury lawyer. They can help recover evidence on your behalf while you heal from your injuries. An attorney will also go over all your economic and non-economic damages and negotiate to get you the right amount.
Source from My Car Heaven
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