It is true that insurance companies do not always seem to hold up their end of the bargain. However, after you have been involved or injured in a car accident, there are a few things you can do to make the insurance process go more smoothly. This is true whether or not you believe the accident is your fault.
Avoid assigning blame
You may think the car accident is your fault. On the other hand, you may not, or you might see it as somewhere in between. Whatever the case is, hold off on making judgments when you speak to the police and to your insurance agent. You do not know where the other driver was, what he or she may have been drinking, and so on. Give facts such as where, when, what and who to the best of your ability, but do not misrepresent anything or give an answer you are not sure about.
Meet deadlines
Insurance companies tend to require that you file a claim a certain number of days after an accident. There will likely be other deadlines, too. It is important that you meet them all in order to be eligible for maximum compensation down the road.
See a doctor
If you have any reason to believe you have been injured, visit a doctor. Insurance companies require documentation by a medical professional before they can consider injury claims. If any doubt exists, err on the safe side, and seek medical attention . That slight pain in your neck that you are not sure is related to the accident could turn into something much more serious down the road and absolutely be connected to the crash.
Consult with a lawyer
If your insurance company (or the other driver’s insurance company) is being unfair, for example, by outright rejecting your claim or by dragging on the process for no legitimate reason that you can see, a lawyer can often step in to help. Lawyers who work in personal injury are well-versed with the lingo that will get a claim rolling. They can help get insurers to follow through on their promises.
If you do decide to retain a lawyer, it helps that you have done everything properly beforehand. That is, you have not assigned fault, or you have not been dishonest or guessed at answers. It is better to say, “I don’t know what time I left my grandmother’s,” rather than to say, “I left at 3:55,” and have it be wrong.
