Tips for Dealing With Insurance Companies After an Accident

by Kristen White Blogger

After a car accident, you will hear from insurance companies. Your insurance company will contact you to get details and maybe try to settle your claim. The other person's insurance company will contact you as well. Often, they are looking to pin the accident on you so they do not have to pay you. If it is clear the other person was at fault, his or her insurance company may try to get you to agree to a low settlement payment. In either case, it is essential that you understand how to deal with insurance companies contacting you after an accident.

First and Foremost

The first thing you should do is hire a car accident personal injury lawyer. A lawyer will look out for your interests. The insurance companies are looking out for their own interests, even your insurance company. After all, they really do not want to ever make a payment to you. Ideally, they want to take money from you through premiums. So, when you make a claim, their goal is to find a way to pay the least amount possible. With an attorney on your side, you have someone who understands the law and the process of accident negotiation and who will make sure you get what you deserve.

Other Things To Do

Even if you have a lawyer, you still need to be proactive when it comes to providing your lawyer with information and evidence of the accident. So, there are some things you will want to do to help your attorney when he or she is negotiating with the insurance companies.

To begin with, when the accident happens, you should start immediately collecting as much evidence as possible. Take pictures of your vehicle and the other vehicle. Also, get pictures of the whole accident scene. Ask for contact information from the other driver and any witnesses nearby. Make sure you get at least a phone number, but also try to get addresses.

You also should not talk to any insurance company. Never give a recorded statement without your attorney being present. Whatever you say can be used against you in court and could hurt your case. They will want to get information that could show you were at fault. Even if you know you were responsible, you still should mount a defense and not just hand evidence over to them.

In addition, always call law enforcement. In some cities, they may not respond if there are no injuries, but at least you have a record that you made contact with them.

Finally, make sure you understand the statute of limitations. In Alaska, you have two years from the time of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you try to file after that time, your case will be thrown out.

A Few Tips

While having a good lawyer on your side should make dealing with the insurance companies easier, it may not help you get back on your feet quickly. Sometimes the process of negotiation and settling a claim takes a while. In the meantime, you should consider having your insurance company repair your vehicle even if you were not at fault. Your insurance company will then go after the guilty party. However, you will get your vehicle up and running much faster. Also, have your doctor and other medical professionals bill the insurance company directly. Otherwise, you will have to pay out of your settlement and you will probably pay a higher amount than the insurance would have been billed due to agreements between health care providers and insurance companies.

Dealing with insurance companies after an accident can be a challenge. You should not try to do it without legal representation. If you do nothing else, make sure to hire an attorney and do not talk with any insurance company without your attorney by your side.