June 13, 2021

What Should I Say to the Insurance Company After a Car Accident?

You may think you need to contact your insurance company, or the other driver’s insurance company, as quickly as possible after a car accident. While there are time restrictions in your policy, you have time to talk to an attorney first to increase your chance of maximum compensation.

Most personal injury lawyers start a car accident case with a free, no-risk evaluation. You can talk about the accident, get answers to your questions, and discuss what comes next. Here are some of the things they may suggest when it comes to dealing with the insurance company.

Let Your Lawyer Do the Talking

If there are no injuries and minimal property damage, you could probably file the claim yourself. However, if you or a loved one are injured, your claim is more complicated. It’s potentially worth more, and there’s a greater need for legal help. A multiple-vehicle wreck is also complex and should have guidance from an attorney.

Hire a car accident lawyer to help with your insurance claim so you can focus on getting better. Let them deal with the insurance company, collect evidence, and file your claim.

You Could Jeopardize Your Claim

Under Illinois law, an accident victim can pursue recovery if their share of the blame for the accident is less than 50%. If you’re more than half at fault, you can’t recover from an insurance claim or lawsuit.
You may mistakenly say or write something in a statement or form that makes the insurance carrier think you are primarily responsible for the wreck. They may use your words and other information they developed to argue you’re the one who’s more to blame, and your claim is denied. Once you say something or write something to the company, you can’t take it back.

They Could Limit Your Payout

Suppose the other driver is more than half at fault for causing the accident. In that case, your recovery is reduced by your share of the accident’s cause. If your potential compensation from the accident is $100,000 and you were 25% at fault, your award decreases by 25%. That limits your recovery to $75,000. You’re not more than half at fault, so your claim can’t be denied, but the insurance carrier could try the next best thing – limit their payout.

Minimizing Your Injury Can Cost You

You could also mistakenly state things that hurt your credibility or make your injuries seem less severe than they are. Credibility is crucial in an insurance claim. Having a lawyer speak for you reduces your chance of inadvertently making a mistake.

Contradictions are a way to make yourself look untruthful. You may talk about the accident to the best of your recollection, but you may be wrong about details. If what you say contradicts what the other driver says and what’s on the police report, it’s a red flag for an insurance company.

Get the Help You Need From Attorneys You Can Trust

You don’t have to say anything to the insurance company after a car accident. Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., deals with the insurance company, so you won’t have to. We file your claim, evaluate your damages, and negotiate a settlement. If the insurance company is not being reasonable, we can protect your legal rights by filing a lawsuit.

Since 2000 we’ve helped hundreds of injured accident victims obtain the best recoveries possible, and we can help you too. If you or a loved one was hurt in a car accident, call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C at (217) 528-9955, or contact us online today. We offer free initial consultations, and we don’t charge up-front costs. We are paid when you recover compensation.