- Getting you to talk about a specific detail that isn’t supported by other evidence
- Trying to persuade you to pretend you’re alright or to downplay your injuries in any way.
Why would the other insurance company call me?
If you receive a call from another insurance provider, remain polite and composed. Get the name of the company as well as the person’s name and title before agreeing to answer any questions. Make a note of this information. However, only give them the bare minimum of information. If required, only give them your name, address, and phone number. Don’t say anything about the accident, your injuries, your insurance company, or your insurance claims on the spot. Take notes on the subjects you discuss during the conversation.
End the conversation correctly to avoid the other driver’s insurance company from contacting again. Make it clear to the other driver’s insurance adjuster that they should not contact you, but that you will.
You Are Not Legally Obliged to Speak to an Adjuster From Another Insurance Company.
You are only obligated to speak with a representative of your own insurance carrier in most jurisdictions. If speaking with a representative from another insurance company makes you uncomfortable, you have a few options. You can refuse to speak with them, ask them to contact your insurance company’s adjuster, or tell them you’ll only speak with them in the presence of your lawyer.
Insurance Companies Know This, but They Will Call You Anyway.
Unfortunately, many consumers do not just tell a different company’s insurance counselor, “Sorry, I really don’t want to chat right now.” Other insurance companies’ adjusters are aware of this and try to take advantage of it. So be ready and expect a call as soon as possible.
The Other Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend.
The other driver’s insurance company’s primary purpose is to pay you as little money as possible, and none at all if at all possible. They are not looking out for your best interests. They don’t give a damn how terribly you’ve been hurt. It’s all about the cash flow. One of the major reasons the other driver’s insurance company contacts you is to try to persuade you to provide evidence that the accident was your fault, that any injuries you sustained were minor, or that you were not injured at all. Another reason why you should not speak with the other insurance company without your lawyer present is because of this.
- The second goal is to negotiate the lowest feasible settlement if they are unable to deny the claim.
Anything You Say Can and Will Be Used Against You.
An adjuster for the other driver’s insurance company will question you about things that don’t seem to have anything to do with the accident. They’re attempting to draw you out in order to get you to answer the question in a way that they can use against you if you file a claim and it gets to trial.
When you speak with the adjuster for the other driver’s insurance company, you risk jeopardizing your insurance claims. Keep in mind that these insurance adjusters do this on a daily basis. They are aware that you were in an accident and are not feeling well. They’ve been instructed to hunt for evidence against you. You’re on their turf, and they’re well-versed in the game’s rules. If they can, they’ll use those regulations against you.
Do Not Let Them Record You. Do Not Give a Written Statement.
The majority of insurance adjusters do not attack you with full force. Instead, they’ll try to be chatty and persuade you that they’re just trying to learn as much as they can about what happened. One of their favorite ruses is to persuade you to let them record your chat. “If you could provide us a recorded statement, this will go considerably faster,” they’ll say.
One of the most common methods to jeopardize your case is to give a recorded statement. Other companies’ insurance adjusters will utilize a recorded statement to disprove your accident claim. What are their methods for accomplishing this?
The statement you gave to the police at the site of the accident and the one you gave to them, as well as any statement you made when you submitted your claim, will be scrutinized by the other driver’s insurance adjuster. They’re looking for even the tiniest contradiction to dismiss your claim. It is fairly uncommon for a person to relate the circumstances of an accident differently four or five months after it occurred. Providing them with a recorded statement allows them to search for contradictions.
Adjusters will ask you those strange questions we stated earlier, queries that are meant to debunk your claim. They may try to persuade you to agree with something you know is untrue. You can say something like, “Maybe,” or “I think so,” if you just want them to leave you alone or shift the subject. That’s what they’d like you to do.
During cross-examination, the other party’s defense team will use your recorded statement if the case goes to trial. It’s likely that you made the statements they recorded months ago and are having trouble recalling what you actually said. This is the ruse they’ve set up for you. If you contradict what you said in a recorded statement while on the stand in a trial, the other party’s attorneys will focus on that contradiction and make sure the jury is aware of it.
Never Admit Fault or Say You Are Not Hurt.
When you’re in an accident, the specifics can be hazy, especially if you’ve had a concussion or suffered whiplash. Perhaps you’re not sure who was to blame. Regardless, never confess fault for the accident, especially if it’s a little one. If you concede to the insurance adjuster that you were or may have been at fault for the accident, you may jeopardize your case.
The same can be said about injuries. It’s crucial to understand that your body produces a lot of adrenaline in the first day or two after an accident, especially if it’s a major one. Adrenaline can be used to conceal more serious injuries. You may feel good the second or third day following an accident, but once the adrenaline wears off, you may find that your neck hurts, that touching your stomach hurts, or that you have other dangerous symptoms.
Adjusters will employ a variety of tactics to persuade you that you are not wounded or that you are in good health. Also, if you are aware that you are in agony, do not tell the insurance adjuster. Just state you don’t know since you’re waiting for a response from your doctor or you haven’t had time to have a complete medical examination.
Only Answer the Question Asked.
When the adjuster from the other party’s insurance company calls, they will try to strike up a cordial conversation with you. Their main purpose is to fool you into thinking it’s just a pleasant call and that they’re checking in on you. It is not a pleasant call, and they are unconcerned about how you are feeling.
They’re just looking for ways to deceive you into giving evidence against yourself, which they can use to dismiss your claim or offer you a far lesser settlement than you deserve.
As a result, avoid engaging in a “pleasant conversation” with the insurance adjuster. Don’t offer them any specific details about the accident, any injuries you may have had, or your thoughts on the matter. Any of these data should never be discussed with an adjuster. It’s fine to indicate any potential car damage, but never reveal injuries or the specifics of the collision.
“In your perspective, who had the final opportunity to prevent the crash?” is one of the most commonly asked questions by insurance adjusters. They’re looking to see if there was anything you could have done at the final moment to prevent the accident. Was the music on the radio too loud? Were you engrossed in your phone? Were you taken aback by something you noticed on the street? The adjuster usually asks this question because they know the motorist they represent was at fault and are trying to find a method to mitigate that liability by insinuating that you had a chance to avoid the accident.
“I guess the individual who hit me had the final opportunity,” is the finest response you can make.
Be truthful, but don’t divulge any more information than is required. Maintain a straightforward and simple approach.
Never Agree to a Settlement Over the Phone or Sign Anything.
One of the reasons adjusters from the other driver’s insurance company phone so quickly after the accident is to pressure you into agreeing to a settlement as soon as possible. This is especially true if they know their driver was the primary cause of the accident. Insurance adjusters understand that after an accident, people are a little uncomfortable for a day or two. They’ll try to exploit your health as a bargaining chip to get you to agree to a settlement.
Accepting a settlement over the phone is never a good idea. You have no clue what medical costs you’ll have, how long you’ll be out of work, or how much it will cost to fix your automobile the first day or two following the accident. You will very certainly be settling for far less than you deserve if you accept the settlement offer. Defy the pressure and tell them you’re not interested in settling right now.
Sometimes Your Own Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend Either.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance state. That implies your own insurance provider will cover the majority of your medical bills and lost wages. This implies you must treat your own insurance company with the same caution as you would another driver’s insurance company.
Almost all of the advice given above is also applicable to your own insurance company. You may be obligated by law to provide the company a recorded statement, but if you do, make sure your lawyer is there. Again, you should be plain and honest, avoiding embellishments or lengthy talks. In Pennsylvania, the police are obligated to file a report if there was a major accident. As a result, whenever the insurance company inquires about the cause of the accident, you should always refer them to the police report.
Another reason to be cautious is that when deciding compensation for personal injury lawsuits in Pennsylvania, the state uses a modified comparative negligence approach. This means that the insurance company might lower any benefits or compensation you receive based on the percentage of the accident for which you are found to be at fault. So, if you are found to be 30% at fault in a car accident and are given $10,000 in damages, your reward will be reduced by $3,000. This is why, even when communicating with your own insurance carrier, you should never accept culpability for the collision or claim to be uninjured.
Do insurance companies contact each other?
They certainly do, but not in the way you might expect. Insurance firms do not communicate with one another to discuss a person’s driving records and insurance claims history in order to calculate coverage costs.
Rather, almost every insurance business “subscribes” to a service and buys reports one by one for underwriting and pricing. These days, everything is done electronically. When you file a claim with your existing insurance policy, even if it’s a minor one, it’s recorded in the claims system, where other companies can access your driving record.
While your insurance is being graded using an insurer’s computer software, these reports are ordered and applied “in the background.” If you work with an insurance agent, they may look into your state’s system to see if there are any fines or other occurrences. They would also order the CLUE report from the website of the auto insurance company.
Insurers spend a lot of money every year “purchasing” these studies, which can cost up to $7.00 each report depending on where you live. This is why, when you obtain your initial quotation, a vehicle insurance company will usually run these reports. They’re unlikely to run it again if you pay your premiums on time and otherwise do what you’re supposed to.
It doesn’t seem like much until you consider that a single insurer may have to order thousands of policies per day, and that they don’t sell every policy they quote. Keep in mind that insurance providers do not share information about new quotes. It’s only about stuff like your driving record and how long you’ve been with your current vehicle insurance provider.
Do I have to talk to other insurance company?
In the event of a collision, it is always advisable to let your insurance company deal directly with the other insurance company involved. You are not obligated to speak with the other insurance company about the claim’s specifics. When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, this is extremely crucial. It’s possible for something to be misinterpreted or taken out of context, jeopardizing your claim. The other insurance company may call you and perhaps pressurize you to produce information so that the claim may be processed. Politely decline and recommend that they contact your insurance provider or attorney if they have any questions about the situation.
When the other driver’s insurance company calls and asks for your permission to record the conversation, you should be extremely suspicious. That implies they’ll turn on a recording device and record everything you say. In most cases, you won’t obtain a copy unless you specifically request one. Even so, you should seek legal advice before making any written records.
Your insurance carrier is in charge of gathering accident information and negotiating a fair payment. That’s what they’re licensed for, and it’s what they’re paid to do. There is only one circumstance in which you should contact the other insurance provider. When a “third party claim” is submitted, the other party is plainly at fault, and the claim is filed with that person’s insurance carrier. This is only done once they’ve admitted fault or it’s been established. Otherwise, speaking with the insurance company of the other party involved in the collision is not recommended. Even then, it’s usually best to hire an attorney to handle it for you. Keep in mind that they deal with insurance claims on a daily basis. They will have more information and knowledge than you. It’s best to have someone you can trust who has at least as much expertise as you do, if not more. Any inquiries about pending insurance claims should be directed to your attorney or insurance agent, according to BKW Law. We can advise you on the best line of action for your claim.
Why is an insurance investigator calling me?
When dealing with accident victims, insurance adjusters strive to maintain a calm demeanor while pinching pennies to save the insurance company money. That’s the bottom line for them. When they can’t persuade a victim to accept a low-ball settlement offer, they invent grounds to dismiss the claim entirely.
When it comes to lowballing, adjusters are well aware that most people are unable to cover the costs of a car accident on their own, and the insurance industry thrives on this desperation. They know you’re in desperate need of cash, and they’re trying to persuade you to accept a low settlement offer as soon as possible. You’ve “accepted” a settlement when you sign on the dotted line, and you can’t ask for extra money later. This usually means they’ll phone you soon after a collision, before you’ve learned the full extent of your injuries, to persuade you to take a settlement that simply covers your emergency room expense.
They may continue to phone you even if you tell them you need to speak with a lawyer or are still in treatment. They will almost always want you to give a recorded statement. They may claim they need to corroborate the specifics of your accident, but their real goal is to record you saying anything contradictory.
Let’s imagine you told the insurance adjuster that you had merely sustained a concussion in your first statement. Then you mention back problems a few weeks later. The insurance adjuster may argue that the back discomfort was not caused by the collision because you did not mention it at the time. They can even try to prevent you from receiving compensation for your back injury.
Insurance adjusters may also inquire about your behavior during the accident in order to elicit an admission of fault, or for further information about your medical records in order to determine whether you have a preexisting condition. At the end of the day, their goal is to persuade you to accept a low-ball settlement or to create a case to have your claim dismissed.
Why would a claims adjuster call me?
You become an essential witness if you are injured in a vehicle accident. The insurance adjuster will want to double-check the basics, such as the time and location of the accident, the weather, and traffic.
They’ll also want to hear your side of the story. Their motivations aren’t malicious, but they’re not in your best interests either. The insurance company is seeking for a cause to hold their policyholder harmless. They want to hear evidence that you acted irresponsibly, putting you entirely or partially to fault.
Can insurance company come after you?
If you rear-end someone, regardless of whether you were ticketed or not, you are accountable for the person you hit. They have the legal authority to pursue you. If you were rear-ended, you have a claim against the person who hit you if there was any property damage or injuries.
What happens if insurance company Cannot contact other driver?
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to persuade the other motorist to cooperate. In any particular case, the other motorist is not compelled by law to cooperate. If they refuse to participate, their insurance may refuse to cover them, but that is of little help to you.
When your insurance company is unable to contact the at-fault party, you may be left with some unpalatable options.
If You Know the Other Insurance Company
Pass on the information to your insurance provider if you know the other driver’s insurance company. When your insurance provider is unable to contact the at-fault party, they may be able to contact the other firm directly.
You should never contact another insurance company on your own. This is a dangerous move, so leave it to your insurance company or lawyer to handle this element of your claim.
Get a Declarations Page
Get a “declarations page” from your insurance carrier to see the extent of your coverage if you don’t know the other person’s insurance company and have no method of contacting the at-fault driver.
At the very least, your coverage may be sufficient to repair all of your damages and cover any medical expenses.
Get a Copy of the Police Report
There will be a report on file if the automobiles were totaled and you or the other motorist notified the police. It’s always a good idea to have a copy for yourself, but if you get a copy of the police report, you might be able to find the name of the at-fault driver’s insurance company if you weren’t sure before.
Because not all accident reports include contact information, it’s best to look out the insurance company’s name as soon as possible following the accident.
If All Else Fails
If everything else fails, seek the help of a car accident lawyer. If your insurance coverage is insufficient, or you are unable to reach the other driver or their insurance company, you might consider hiring an attorney to represent you.
Do I call my insurance if it’s not my fault?
If you were in an automobile accident that was not your fault, you should contact your insurance provider. First, as indicated in your policy, you may be required to contact your insurance carrier. Second, even if the accident was not your fault, you may uncover accessible coverage to assist you with your damages.
What do I say when I call my insurance company after an accident?
Your phone may begin to ring in the hours following a vehicle accident, or any other incident that causes you injury, and the caller may be an insurance adjuster or another representative of the other party involved in the accident. Let’s take a look at what you should say (and what you should avoid saying) to a representative of the other party during your initial post-accident phone contact, especially if you believe that party is to blame for the accident.
Remain Calm and Polite
Even if you are still angry about the accident and your injuries, venting your frustrations on the insurance adjuster will not help you obtain a reasonable personal injury settlement. You never know how or when an insurance adjuster’s good will will pay offin quickly processing your claim or believing your version of a difficult-to-prove issueso it’s always better to retain your calm and remain professional.
Identify the Person You Speak With
Get the name, address, and phone number of the person you’re speaking with, as well as the name of the insurance company he or she works for and the person or business the firm represents, before you start talking about anything (the “insured”).
Give Only Limited Personal Information
You simply need to provide your full name, address, and phone number to the insurance adjuster. You can also tell them what you do for a living and where you work. However, you do not need to explain or disclose anything else about your job, timetable, or money at this point.
Give No Details of the Accident
Insurance adjusters or other representatives may try to get you to “provide a statement” regarding the circumstances surrounding the accident. Alternatively, they may simply strike up a discussion with you in which they subtly try to get you to tell them about the accident. Refuse to reveal any details other than the most basic: where, when, the sort of accident, the vehicles involved if it was a traffic accident, and the identities of any witnesses. Declare that your accident investigation is still ongoing and that you will discuss the details “at the proper time.” You’ll almost certainly write a personal injury demand letter later, in which you’ll outline the accident.
Give No Details of Your Injuries
An insurance adjuster, understandably, will want to know the nature and degree of your injuries. Don’t go into too much detail just now. You might forget something, or you might uncover an injury later, or your injury might be worse than you imagined. If you need to communicate with the adjuster, simply state that you are “still treating” and leave it at that. Learn more about how the value of your personal injury case is affected by your medical treatment.
Take Notes
Write down all of the information you got over the phone, as well as any information you offered to (or requests you made of) the person with whom you spoke as quickly as possible.
Resist the Push to Settle Immediately
During the first one or two phone calls, insurance adjusters may propose a settlement. Quick settlements save the insurance company time and money. More importantly, they persuade you to accept a low-ball offer before you fully comprehend your injuries and the value of your personal injury claim. Don’t fall for the ruse. Collecting a settlement may appear to be a quick method to collect compensation without going through the claims process, and the money may be appealing, but it will almost likely cost you money, possibly a lot of money.
Set Limits on Conversations
Make it plain from the start that you will not be talking much on the phone with an insurance adjuster. You should not only disclose extremely little information in this first phone call, as stated above, but you should also set clear boundaries for any subsequent phone contact.
There are numerous reasons to keep your phone calls with insurance adjusters to a minimum. Some will phone you often in an attempt to get you to settle quickly, and they can be rather annoying. It’s better to deal with this now than than later.
More importantly, you will not be able to provide correct information until you have had a chance to fully investigate and think about the accident, as well as establish the degree of your injuries and other losses (legalese for “damages”). Furthermore, if you provide incomplete or erroneous information over the phone, the insurance company may attempt to compel you to follow it later.
Refuse to Give Recorded Statements
Many claims adjusters will pressure you to give a tape-recorded statement or ask if they can record your phone conversation in the hopes of protecting you afterwards. Do not consent to your communication being recorded. You are under no legal requirement to be recorded, and an adjuster who records you without your permission is breaking the law.
The reason you should decline is because most people become nervous when they realize they are being recorded, and they may forget vital details or describe things in a clumsy or incomplete manner. A verbal statement or conversation is rarely as detailed and thorough as the written communication you’ll provide the insurance company later. Furthermore, recordings are given considerably more weight than they deserve as proof of what occurred. It can be difficult to alter or expound on what you’ve stated in a recording later.
Refuse an adjuster’s request to record your statements politely but firmly. Tell him or her that you are not comfortable with recording and that you will submit your information in writing once it is complete.
Should you call the other insurance company after an accident?
You were driving when someone collided with you, and now you’re the victim of an accident. You weren’t anticipating it, and it wasn’t part of your day’s plan. You’re outraged and confused, and you don’t know what to do now that you’ve been injured and/or your vehicle has been damaged due to someone else’s irresponsibility. You’ve phoned the cops, they’ve arrived and filed an accident report, and you now have the other driver’s insurance information at your fingers. What are your options now? Many accident victims get perplexed at this point. If the accident was caused by someone else, do you contact your own insurance company or do you contact theirs? Handle you wait for them to contact their own insurance provider or do it yourself? What is proper protocol, and how do you deal with what is about to occur?
A: There is no correct or incorrect response to this question. Do you contact their insurer or your own? Do you prefer to wait or complete the task yourself? You are free to do whatever you want, but there are a few things to think about before picking up the phone and dialing. The first is how you intend to approach this particular issue. The best course of action is to contact your insurance provider first. They can provide you advice on how to deal with a scenario like this. Your own insurance company may be able to handle the claim for you and then pursue payment from the other insurer.
Assume the other motorist has insurance, but it is inadequate. Their car is quite ancient, and they only have the bare minimum of insurance coverage. While you wait for your own automobile to be fixed, their insurance company may refuse to hire you a car. Your insurance company will swiftly locate a rental automobile for you, cover the expense, and manage the problem entirely on your behalf. They’ll then file a claim with the other insurance company and ask for compensation.
You can contact the other driver’s insurance company, but don’t try to bargain with them. Instead, you should just make a claim with them, supplying the automobile accident report as well as the details provided by the police. This is to notify them that an accident has occurred. Some drivers refuse to do so because they do not want to be held accountable for the collision. They hope you’ll forget about their insurance and focus on your own. You want to inform them, but you don’t want to discuss finances with them at this time. You’re simply stating the facts to them.
This is known as a claim notification. You can accomplish this without difficulty, but you don’t want to talk to the insurance company about the claim any longer. It is not your responsibility to speak with them about anything other than the claim. It’s still a good idea to call your own insurance carrier and inquire about your options in this circumstance. They will be able to assist you on the specifics.
A: While it is not always required to contact an attorney after an accident, it is beneficial if you have been hurt and will be seeking damages as a result of the event. Damages might range from lost wages to medical bills and other expenses. The role of an attorney is to assist you in navigating the aftermath of an accident. They’ll help you figure out what to do next, how to deal with the circumstance, and what to say and do. They’ll always tell you not to say anything at the scene of the accident other than short answers to police queries.
Clients are also advised not to disclose financial details or settlement negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, according to attorneys. Following an accident, insurance professionals attempt to present you with the best available offer. You are always more valuable than they are willing to pay for you. Furthermore, you may not be aware of the extent to which your health has been harmed as a result of the accident. If your injuries are severe, you may need extra time to see how well, if at all, you can recover. You may have long-term medical concerns that necessitate the use of doctors, specialized equipment, and other resources.