After an accident, it makes sense to exchange insurance information with the other drivers involved. This does not mean that you should talk to the other insurance company about what happened though. Insurers are just trying to get out of any crash by spending as little money as possible. It’s rarely a good idea for you to speak to an adjuster or anyone else from the other driver’s insurance company. This is when you let our Westchester County auto accident attorneys do the talking.
Do I Have a Legal Obligation to Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?
Do not let anyone trick you into talking to the other driver’s insurance company. You are under no obligation to speak to them. You do not have to provide them with a written statement. There is also no obligation to give them your medical records or any other proof of your injuries.
What Are the Potential Downsides of Talking to the Other Insurance Company?
It may seem like we are being overly cautious here, but an adjuster or employee of the other driver’s insurance company is not your friend. They have one goal. They want to minimize how much they have to spend on this accident.
This can mean that they will try to blame you for what happened. If you give them a statement, they can nitpick it and try to use something that you said against you. Even if they can only partly blame you for the accident, that can significantly reduce your eventual settlement amount.
An employee for the other insurer might also try to get you to settle quickly. Many people do not want to go through the rigamarole involved with an injury lawsuit. Insurers know this and will give you a seemingly generous offer, giving you the tempting chance to be done with all of this.
Unfortunately, many people who accept an early settlement offer later realize that they have more serious injuries and more expenses than they thought. Once you’ve settled with an insurer, you cannot go back and ask for more money. You have to pay those expenses yourself.
Should I Talk to a Lawyer?
This is why you should talk to an attorney. Someone from our firm can:
- Help you calculate a fair amount of compensation
- Talk to an insurance company on your behalf
- Field settlement offers
- Remind you of important dates and deadlines
- Prepare you for testimony or depositions
Contact Our Law Firm
So if you were in a car accident and you believe that you are entitled to compensation, contact Hausman & Pendzick. We can schedule a free case consultation and take the time to learn more about your case. Then we can help you explore your legal options.