Insurance companies can benefit from knowing more than a claimant about the process that follows the filing of a claim. The policy holder/claimant that makes a point of learning about the same process can put a damper on any of the tactics that might be used by the insurer’s representatives.
The process’ first stages
Any driver that has been involved in an accident must report that incident to the insurance company. In addition, an injured driver must let the opposing party know whether or not he or she has filed a claim with the appropriate insurance company.
In response, the insurance company usually has an adjuster call that same driver. The adjuster hopes that the recipient of that call has been caught off-guard. That could allow the adjuster to get some valuable information from the driver’s comments.
Personal injury lawyers in Lindsay urge their clients to prepare for that call from the adjuster. If they have the basic information handy, they can share those basic facts. That action suggests that the adjuster’s familiarity with the process has been matched by the familiarity possessed by the called client.
What information should be given to the adjuster?
• The name and address of the person responsible for the accident, ideally the other driver.
• The license number for that driver’s vehicle
• The insurance company for that same driver; the policy number for that driver’s insurance.
• Any statements from witnesses; contact information for the same witnesses.
Mention might be made of photos that can be sent by mail. Those could be pictures of the injury, pictures of the damage or pictures of the location where the vehicles collided.
Actions that help the process to run smoothly
The involved drivers should file a police report. That report should offer information on any offenses committed by either party. If either driver had failed to wear a seat belt, that would be reported by the police. Similarly, if either driver had been speeding or had gone through a red light, a stop signs or a yield sign, then that, too, would get reported. The report’s contents ought to shed light on who, according to the police, should be named at-fault for the reported accident.
The hit driver should seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if he or she feels OK. Understand that some accident-related injuries do not show up until at least 24 hours after the collision’s impact. Still, insurance companies should be deprived of the chance to claim that a given medical problem was caused by something other than the accident.
Exchanging offers
That exchange, the first of many, can be made during that first call. It helps to have an offer in mind, and to state it clearly.