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.
Why is an insurance investigator calling me?
After you file a claim, vehicle insurance providers will investigate your accident for two main reasons. Second, the auto insurance company is attempting to examine your claim properly. There may be some confusion as to what caused the car collision or the amount of the vehicle damage and/or injuries that resulted.
Why am I getting calls after an accident?
I used to work for a prominent law firm in Georgia as a legal investigator. We’d meet with clients, obtain accident reports, fill out paperwork, and so on. I recall going to Atlanta PD with a client to pick up an accident report and go over it with her. As people left the records department, a well-dressed gentleman approached them from the outside. I know this because he approached me and asked if I needed any legal assistance with my car accident. When I asked which attorney he worked for, he remained mute.
If someone approaches you, inquire as to which attorney or doctor will be representing or treating you in your traffic accident. If they phone you, they will most likely hang up on you. They won’t inform you if they approach you in person.
Every signed case delivered earns these runners money. They receive a monetary reward for each case they bring in. This does not necessarily imply that you will receive poor representation; yet, if they can trick the system, what makes you believe they won’t deceive you as well?
We’ve received a number of complaints regarding doctors or doctors’ office representatives phoning auto accident victims. When a doctor’s office called while I was meeting with a client in Douglasville, GA, the client told me what was going on and I told her to hand me the phone. They immediately hung up when I stated who I was and that I wanted to know who they were. In another instance, an unauthorized runner went to the client’s home and knocked on the door. As previously stated, a decent rule of thumb is that they should not be phoning you if you did not call them.
Doctors
Personal injury protection, also known as pip, may bring out the worst in individuals. Doctors in those states would contact you since they are guaranteed payment for their services. Your motor insurance company will be billed for these services. If you want to call it that, call it greed. These doctors are just concerned with your PIP, not with you. They don’t want you to come in and see them so they can use up your pip benefits and send you on your way to find another victim. Never treat with a doctor who contacts you personally.
Florida is now working to amend the law to eliminate personal injury protection. The expensive expense of motor insurance, as well as the corruption that comes with having pip, are two reasons. Rates have risen by 25.7 percent since 2015. Meanwhile, in Florida, all liability coverage has increased by 23.4 percent in the last two years. Doctors and lawyers have created accidents so that they can treat and represent clients who were paid to stage them. Do you believe that doctors or attorneys staging accidents are acting in your best interests?
How do they get my phone number
Your phone number can be obtained from a variety of sources. Many people don’t understand how this works, but I’ll tell you how it works: it’s called currency. Everyone involved in your accident is a suspect, from the officer who wrote the police report to the emergency room nurse who treated you. A Dekalb County records clerk was arrested for selling police reports to an unlicensed runner.
I’ve never heard of an officer doing something like this, but it’s possible. These individuals sell your personal information to a runner, who then begins contacting or pestering you. The calls are never made directly by an attorney or a doctor. They seek to protect themselves from such activities. They usually outsource the calling to a third party with no ties to their office.
After being besieged with unwanted calls, many accident victims are unsure who they may trust. Many reputable lawyers and doctors advertise for thousands of dollars in the hopes of attracting new clients. They value their career and their future far more than making a fast cash.
What can you do if this happens to you
As previously said, they should not be phoning you if you did not call them. This is always the greatest rule to follow because how did they get your information if you didn’t call them? If you phone a doctor’s office or an attorney’s office and they call you back, they can still call you if you change your mind. They spent a lot of money to get that phone to ring, so anyone who phones it will be actively pursued. Keep in mind that a doctor or attorney calling you after an accident is not unlawful in some areas.
What happens when an insurance claim is made against you?
When you face a legal claim, the trial can be a long and difficult process. Before a jury trial can begin, people must be chosen to serve as jurors. Attorneys may cross-examine the opposite party after each party has given their opening statements, and witnesses may be called to testify.
Can someone claim on your insurance without you knowing?
In most cases, you would have obtained those details from the other car or bike’s owner’s insurer at the scene of a car accident, or over the phone a few days later after the collision, in order to submit a Third Party car insurance claim (where you contact the other car or bike’s owner’s insurer). It is, however, feasible to discover information about a car’s registered keeper simply by looking at the license plate (for example you can make a Subject Access Request from the DVLA in writing, by post). You may then call their insurance company without knowing their policy number; you could even find out without knowing the other driver’s insurance company by asking the police to seek down this information and contact them on your behalf. It’s useful to know if you’re ever involved in a hit-and-run situation.
What do insurance companies know about you?
The types of information collected by life insurance companies are usually determined by the amount of coverage you want, the policy type, and the underwriting procedure they utilize. Your age and health may also play a role.
The most information is received from sources such as those listed below for fully underwritten policies. Many of these same sources are used in accelerated underwriting, with the exception of the medical exam. In addition, the simplified issue underwriting procedure may rely on limited third-party data.
Information From You
Prepare your coffee. According to the Society of Actuaries, a life insurance application might have up to 60 questions. You’ll be quizzed on your age, personal medical history and mental health, family medical history, and whether or not you use tobacco. There will also be inquiries into your driving record, harmful hobbies, and any prospective trip plans to dangerous regions.
To verify your identification, insurance providers will ask for personal information such as your Social Security number and birth date. They may also want to know your annual wage because it may limit the amount of insurance you may acquire based on it.
It’s critical to be truthful while answering questions. Keep in mind that insurers will double-check a lot of the information you provide with other sources. Incorrect responses may void your insurance policy in the future.
Electronic Health Records
Life insurance businesses have benefited from the availability of electronic health records. They can get rid of the outdated procedure of requesting an Attending Physician Statement (APS) on an applicant through phone or fax by accessing digital medical records. Firms that help insurers obtain medical records are known as records-request companies.
Your life insurance application will include a HIPAA-compliant consent form for you to sign if an insurer requests your medical records.
Since 2014, health-care providers have been obligated by federal law to keep electronic health records. Life insurers can use electronic health information to speed up the application process and, in some situations, eliminate the need for a medical exam.
Previous Life Insurance Applications
Individual health and life insurance applications are gathered by MIB Group. If you’ve ever applied for insurance with one of MIB’s member businesses, it’s likely that they have a record of you. Insurers can check to see whether your previous responses contradict what you’ve indicated on a new application. You can acquire a free copy of your MIB file.
MIB does not have information about your workplace’s group life or health insurance.
From Pharmaceutical Databases
Life insurance firms will find out if you’re taking medication for high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, or anything else. They check your prescription drug history using third-party companies like Milliman Intelliscript.
From a Life Insurance Medical Exam
A medical exam, also known as a paramedical exam, is usually required for a fully underwritten life insurance policy to identify if you have any medical issues that could affect the amount you pay.
Carriers like ExamOne and APPS are used by insurance companies to send a nurse or paramedical professional to your home or business. They’ll probably measure your height, weight, and blood pressure, as well as take blood and urine samples (which can detect nicotine and drug use, among other things).
Depending on your age or health, some insurers may require an EKG and/or cognitive assessment.
From Your Motor Vehicle Report
You’re submitting a life insurance application, not a car insurance application. So, why would an insurance company want to look into your driving history? You may be a higher risk as a policyholder if you have received speeding tickets or other offences such as DUIs.
From Your Credit
For life insurance firms, your credit may also appear to be an odd source of information. According to the Society of Actuaries, they may examine your credit. Credit scores can help determine your “mortality,” or life expectancy. LexisNexis, an analytics firm, sells its Risk Classifier score to life insurance, for example. Your credit, driving history, and other public records-based criteria are all factored into your score.
From Public Records
Insurers can look up your personal information in public records, find out what property you own, see whether you have a criminal past, and look for other information that might indicate you’re a riskier applicant.
From Financial Statements
Insurance companies may need more information to verify your financial condition if you apply for life insurance beyond a particular sum. Ameritas, for example, will demand to see tax returns or income statements, as well as a list of assets certified by an accountant, for applicants who seek a life insurance policy worth more than $5 million.
From Your Social Media Accounts
Anything you share on social media has the potential to backfire. Even when applying for life insurance, this is true. According to a poll conducted by Lewis & Ellis Actuaries and Consultants, most insurance firms scan social media sites as part of their underwriting process. The majority of people use Google, although some also use LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Can insurance investigators tap your phone?
Following you with a private investigator is often lawful. In other circumstances, it’s business as usual as long as there’s no reasonable expectation of privacy. As a result, the majority of evidence gathered in a public environment is considered legal. They may see you working in your yard or standing on your front porch, for example, because you are likely in public view in these situations.
Can an Insurance Investigator Tap My Phone?
No, an insurance investigator will never be able to tap your phone. It is illegal to tap a phone by employing electronic equipment to secretly listen to someone’s phone calls.
Taping a phone, on the other hand, is not the same as taking a recorded statement, which many insurance companies do on a regular basis. Many states, including North Carolina and South Carolina, are one-party consent states, meaning that only one side must consent to the call being recorded. Most insurance companies will inform you that the call will be recorded, but I advise all of my clients to give a recorded statement only under the supervision of an experienced lawyer to avoid any potential traps.
What do insurance investigators ask?
The insurance investigator will begin by gathering a brief description of the incident, including the date, type, time, and location.
The insurance investigator may, and most likely will, request any of the following information as part of the investigation:
- A trip to the location of the accident to assess all possible contributing events and conditions
It is advantageous to have any of these items on hand to assist the investigator with your case. These details can make it much easier for the investigator and adjuster to figure out what went wrong and who is to blame.
Whatever the case may be, the adjuster will analyze your policy to ensure that your claim is covered and to determine whether the potential expenses exceed your coverage limitations.
Can insurance companies read your text messages?
You are not required to do so, but should you? No. The insurance company should not have access to your cell phone records. Insurance adjusters are seeking for an excuse to blame you for the accident, so they request these records. They’re looking to see if you made any phone calls around the time of the accident, as this could show that you were preoccupied.
What is Accident Helpline Washington State?
Accident Helpline is a service that provides assistance to people who have been involved in an accident. Accident Helpline is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting you after an accident. Making an appointment with an accident specialist for a FREE evaluation and massage. Assistance with collision repair or transportation.