When you get into an accident, the last thing you want to do is deal with insurance companies. The process of getting reimbursed for your damages can be difficult and confusing, but it’s important to stay calm when dealing with your insurer. Here are some tips on how not to come across as rude or unprofessional when talking with the person who is dealing with your claim.
It Was My Fault
If you say this to your insurance company, they may not be able to help you. It is also important to know who was at fault for the accident and how much blame to assign. You may get in trouble for misleading statements or not telling the truth. Also, if there were other people involved in an accident and someone else was injured as well–such as a pedestrian hit by another driver–it’s possible that you could be sued by both sides of this case!
I’m Not Injured
You may not feel it at first. It can take a while for the symptoms to appear and go away, especially if you have suffered a serious injury or are in shock. You may even be unsure whether or not your injuries are real until they completely disappear; this is why it’s important to speak with a doctor early on in the process.
This Is My Official Statement
You should not give an official statement until you have had time to recover from the accident, have hired a lawyer and spoken with your insurance company. An official statement can be used against you in court if it was given under duress or otherwise obtained improperly.
It is also important that you do not speak with police officers before speaking with your insurance company so that they understand what happened in their report and are able to make decisions based on accurate information instead of rumors or hearsay.
Don’t accept lowball offers.
Bargaining with an insurance company is a negotiation, and you should always be willing to walk away from the table if they don’t give you what you want. If all of your injuries are minor and there’s no reason why they can’t pay out their full policy limit, then it may seem like common sense for them to offer less than what they’re legally required by law to pay out without any negotiations taking place (which is usually not much at all).
However, some people have been hurt in accidents that caused serious damage or injuries–and those who are injured often need help paying medical bills as well as lost wages from time off work due to their injuries. You needn’t settle for less than what’s fair.
The last thing you want to do is make your insurance company think that they are in control of what you say. If they think they can convince you to settle, they’ll probably try it and see if their charm works. Make sure there is enough evidence on the scene to prove that your accident was not your fault and don’t accept lowball offers from the insurance company!