What Should I Say to the Insurance Company?

There are two different insurance company interactions that may occur after an accident. There is the interaction with your own insurance company, in the case of an auto accident, and then there is the possible interaction with the insurance company for the negligent party. Sometimes, the negligent parties insurance company doesn’t come into play when your own insurance covers all of your costs. However, it is quite common to have to pursue the other parties insurance because medical expenses are very high.

If you have been injured in an accident that was due to someone else’s negligence, you can make a claim to your own insurance company, but you may also need to request a settlement from the responsible party via their insurance in order to pay for all of your injuries. When you do this, you need the help of an experienced Philadelphia accident lawyer from the very beginning.

At Brotherly Law, we will evaluate your case and will advise you on what to say and what not to say to your insurance company and the insurance company of the negligent party. Saying the wrong thing could hurt your case, even if you are not aware that it is the wrong thing. We can carry out interaction for you and give you the advice that you need so you have the strongest possible case.

What You Shouldn’t Say to the Insurance Company

First, your insurance company does need to be contacted about the accident, but you don’t necessarily have to do so at the accident scene. It can be very easy to say something that you shouldn’t say. The following are examples of what not to say to the insurance company:

• Never tell the insurance company that the accident was your fault. You don’t want to apologize or confess to anything, even if you were at fault. It is possible for the other motorist to share some fault in the accident, so you don’t want to confess or you could bear the burden of the entire event. Also make sure you don’t tell the police or the other person involved that the accident was your fault.
• If you’re not hurt, don’t say you’re not hurt. You could be injured and not know it until days, weeks, or months later. Bruising and other injuries may not develop until days after the accident.
• Don’t let the insurance company know that you don’t have an attorney yet, if you don’t. It is good to call an attorney very soon after the accident so that you can say you have an attorney. If you don’t yet, refrain from saying this since you want to keep the pressure on the insurance company to take the case seriously. Having an attorney will also help make sure you have the compensation needed to cover your expenses.
• Don’t give the insurance company contact information for friends, family, or doctors. The reason is because they may try to contact these individuals to learn more about you and your case. Don’t give out any information that you aren’t required to give.
• You don’t have to accept the initial settlement. Many accident victims are desperate to get paid, so they make the mistake of accepting the initial offer, which is almost always too low. Your attorney can handle the negotiations for you so you can get a meaningful settlement rather than an insufficient one.

Instead, tell the insurance company what happened without admitting fault. Provide them with the information of the other driver and ask them how you can submit photos of the accident if they need them. Everything should be about the actual outcome of the accident and not what led to it unless it’s simple. If another driver ran a red light and you collided with them in an intersection, it’s fine to tell them that the other party ran a red light, but you don’t want to say much more.

Get the Guidance and Representation You Need from a Philadelphia Accident Lawyer

Emotions run high after an accident, which can prompt you to say something to the insurance company that could influence your claim. If you have been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence and you are wondering what you need to say and not say, Brotherly Law can help you. We can give you the guidance you need and can also interact for you to ensure that you have a strong claim. To learn more about how we can help you, call us at (215) 545-8500 to schedule a free consultation.