What Do I Say to Insurance Adjusters After Being Injured in a Car Accident?

It can be very confusing knowing what to say, sign, or do after a car accident that leaves you seriously injured. It is important to understand as a car accident victim that anything said or signed can be used against you when making a claim for compensation. To make matters even more delicate, insurance adjusters seek to obtain certain information and admissions out of claimants through strategic and formulated interview questions, all for the purpose of using the information as a means to evade liability for their client’s damages. Basically, insurance companies’ main objective is to pay as little as possible to anyone making a claim with them.

Continue reading to learn what your rights are as a personal injury car accident victim, including what you should not say to insurance adjusters and police in order to protect your rights to full and fair compensation.

Indiana Car Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700
Indiana Car Wreck Lawyers 317-881-2700

What To Do as a Car Accident Victim

It is vital to make a police report at the scene of the incident, even if the at-fault driver drove off and even if the at-fault driver tells you at the scene they are at-fault. Likewise, it is just as important to get a medical report recorded at the scene of the accident as well. If the paramedics believe you require medical care, allow them to transport you to the nearest hospital. They are specifically trained to make these types of medical decisions. 

If you are transported by ambulance and are not able to talk with the investigating officer at the scene of the collision, make your police and medical report in the hospital. Most police officers will go to the hospital to obtain your version of the incident.  In any even, as soon as you are stable, whether at home or in the hospital, it is time to hire an Indiana personal injury lawyer to represent you in your car accident claim.

Never Talk With a Defendant’s Insurance Carrier

As a recent car accident victim, the best course of action for you to take is to get a legal professional on your side as soon as possible. If an insurance carrier calls you, take down their name, address, phone number and claim number and provide that information to your attorney. Waivers, documents, and interviews can entail confusing jargon and mislead victims.

An experienced car accident attorney will handle and organize every single detail of your case. This includes gathering all necessary documents, such as police reports, medical records, witness statements, expert testimonies, and more. They will also conduct all communications with your insurance company and the opposing insurance adjusters, as well as, opposing counsels, judges, doctors, and more.

Your Rights as a Car Accident Victim:

✅ You have the right to ask a police officer to file a police report.

✅ You have the right to take pictures at the scene of the accident, including damages to property (both vehicles), injuries, persons in the area, surrounding landmarks and structures, etcetera.

✅ You have the right to deny an insurance adjuster’s request for a recorded statement without consulting with your lawyer first (whether it’s your insurance carrier or another).

✅ You have the right to professional and private legal counsel.

✅ You have the right to seek to collect compensation for your damages and losses if negligently caused by another person.

Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyers That Work Hard to Protect Your Rights

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed personal injury attorney about your car accident injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek are motivated to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being seriously injured in an accident. Call 317-881-2700 for Indianapolis personal injury representation you can trust.  We represent injured persons throughout the State of Indiana.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Schedule a Free Consultation!

Tactics Used By Insurance Companies To Try To Lower Bodily Injury Settlements

When it comes to bodily injury settlements, the insurance industry wants to payout the lowest amount possible; and the tactics they use are exceedingly unfair and misleading. If you are involved in an accident claim, be sure you do not fall victim to insurance company tricks to settle low.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about insurance settlement offers, including how to obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm
Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm 317-881-2700

Quick Calling

The most common and corrupt practice used by insurance companies to settle as low as possible is to contact a victim directly after their accident; usually within just a few days. Why is this unfair? Well, there is no way of telling just how extensive a victim’s damages are until they have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). Until then, the damages can continue to add up. So, if a victim accepts a low offer upfront, before they have finished recovering, they risk making mere pennies compared to what their case is actually worth.  An injury case should never be settled until a the injured person is completely healed and feels like they did before the injury or a doctor tells the injured party that they have reached MMI, which simply means the injured party has obtained as much improvement as they are going to with medical care.

Misdirection

Settling an accident claim out of court can be a complex process, and insurance companies sometimes use this to their advantage by confusing, intimidating, and manipulating claimants, in hopes that a victim will quickly accept their quick low-ball offer. For these reasons and more, hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent your accident claim and manage all insurance company negotiations is vital to your final settlement being complete. Without an accomplished legal team on the case, a victim has no way of knowing how to divert and dodge confusing insurance company tactics.

False Urgency

Although claimants have a generous amount of time to file a lawsuit, referred to as statute of limitations, insurance companies will operate as if time is running out and the claim must be settled as soon as possible. They will often urge victims to decide quickly, even implying that the offer won’t be on the table for much longer. The reality is, victims of general negligence have 2 years from the date of the accident, depending on whether or not the at-fault party is a governmental entity or not.  All injured persons should consult with an attorney soon after their injuries occur.

No Attorney

Insurance companies do not want you to hire or even talk to an attorney.  Insurance companies have their own attorneys on staff to assist their adjusters from day one in defending an injured party’s claim from the at-fault party’s perspective.  Shouldn’t you have your own experienced trial attorney looking out for your best interests as well from day one?  Absolutely.     

Who to Trust for Expert Indiana Accident Claim Advice

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to discuss your recent personal injury accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent the seriously injured and surviving loved ones in wrongful death cases throughout Indiana. Our experienced injury lawyers know exactly how to spot and navigate around insurance company negotiation tactics, and will recover the full and fair compensation you deserve using our adept legal knowledge and resources. We offer free initial consultations and work on contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover a settlement for you. Get started by scheduling your consultation, today.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700
Schedule a Free Consultation!