After a car accident, it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. The most important first step should always involve a call to your Tulsa personal injury attorney. However, if you are unable to do this prior to a call from an insurance adjuster, our helpful tips can make the process easier.Insurance companies are set up to make profits. They collect premiums in hopes that enough member’s claims do not get compensated so they can make large sums of money every year. Your insurance adjuster is definitely not motivated to compensate your claim, but your Tulsa personal injury attorney will.
This is one of the primary reasons you should not be discussing your case with the insurance adjuster, and instead should be referring them to your Tulsa personal injury attorney.
Secondly, you aren’t an insurance adjuster, or an personal injury attorney, who are well versed in what words are damaging to your case. Your statement to an insurance adjuster can be extremely serious and cause negative repercussions.
Below are the most common mistakes to avoid that car accident victims make when taking to an insurance adjuster.
Opinion Statements
Opinion statements are one of the most important statements to not make to an insurance adjuster. Remember, talking to an insurance adjuster is not like talking to a friend or family member.
Conjuncture or giving ideas can create negative consequences. If you don’t know an answer, do not guess or try to answer. The best route, if you must speak to an insurance adjuster, is to stick to facts only.
Your Tulsa personal injury attorney may accompany you on the call to the insurance adjuster if you must speak to them. Your Tulsa personal injury attorney will also make sure that you do not discuss anything you are unsure of or related to facts unknown in order to protect your case.
Statements of Fault
These statements include exclamations such as, “I am so sorry!” or “Oh no, it’s all my fault!” It is imperative that you do not apologize after an accident.
It is perfectly OK to check on other drivers, if you are safe to do so — but no one knows who was at fault; that is the job of the insurance investigator. There could have been a mechanical error, other distracted drivers, or a faulty traffic signal.
Your Tulsa personal injury attorney will tell you that apologizing is one of the most common ways insurance adjusters reason to not provide full or any compensation. Do not apologize to drivers of other vehicles and most importantly the insurance adjuster.
It is common to have “survivor’s guilt.” However, there is a huge difference between emotional guilt verses actual fault.
“I’m Fine” Statements
Most injuries can take days, if not weeks, to appear. Some injuries include bone and deep tissue damage not visible to the naked eye. In addition, adrenaline is a common hormone released after a traumatic event. Adrenaline can mask any physical pain until the adrenaline wears off, sometimes not until the next day.
It is natural to be worried about others involved in the accident. However, unless you are a trained medical professional, there is really not a lot of aid you can render. In fact, you should seek medical attention for yourself as soon as possible after the accident.
Seeking medical attention right after your accident can help diagnosis unseen injuries, start a record of medical evidence, and illustrate the seriousness of your injuries. Any injuries discussed with medical personal should never be communicated to the insurance adjuster. Leave this up to your personal injury attorney; he or she has the skills and experience needed to handle this matter.
Recorded Statements
Some insurance adjusters will contact you shortly after an accident stating that you are required to give a brief recorded statement of the event to the adjuster. This is absolutely not true.
Your Tulsa personal injury attorney will actually inform you that you should not ever give a recorded statement. It may seem as if you are just being asked to recount the truth of the events, however memory can be faulty, especially after a traumatic event.
Once you record a statement, it will follow you throughout the case; if you change your story the opposing party could use this for impeachment purposes. Words can also be taken out of context and used against you. It is a smart policy to decline all offers of recorded statements by the insurance adjuster.
Free Consultation with a Tulsa Personal Injury Attorney
Consulting with a Tulsa personal injury attorney as soon as possible in the event you are injured is very important in order to preserve your rights, protect you from the insurance companies, and obtain a fair settlement. A personal injury attorney can help you gather information and advise you on what you may receive in a personal injury settlement.
Hiring a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney will ensure the process is expertly conducted and your interests are well represented.
Contact an experienced Tulsa personal injury attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma personal injury civil process.
For a free, confidential consultation, call 918-924-5528 today.
