Sometimes it is inevitable to get caught up in an accident. This may not be your fault. You might have adhered to the necessary precautions to protect yourself and other road users. But the actions or omissions of these road users might land you in an accident that results in a personal injury. At other times, the fault maybe your own. We are not perfect. Whatever the circumstance, it would be prudent to file a claim with your insurance company to try and mitigate compensation lawsuits that might arise from the accident. Read on to find out how you ought to deal with insurance companies after an accident.
Seek the services of an Attorney
Many people assume that they can handle insurance coverage claims on their own. This is especially the case when the claim is against the person’s insurance company or in cases where personal injury is not significant. This will work against you in most cases. Why? You might wonder.
Insurance companies like other businesses aim to make a profit through cost reduction. Your claim represents a cost to these firms. These firms, therefore, seek the services of insurance adjusters to reduce their settlement obligations as much as possible. You might not possess the skills and professionalism to deal with these adjusters to your advantage.
Seeking the services of an attorney will yield the following benefits:
- You get to know your legal rights that arise from the claim.
- You will get to know the steps you ought to take or not while pursuing compensation.
- The attorney handles all your communications with the insurance companies. This protects you from giving information that might jeopardize your right to compensation.
To Cooperate or not
This is a matter that will depend on the nature of the accident. Cooperation is usually beneficial for scenarios where the accident results in a personal injury. In this scenario, your policy might require that you cooperate with the insurance company when the claim is under investigation. In addition to your cooperation your policy may require that you inform the firm, within a specified time, of the accident you have experienced. It is advisable that you cooperate under these circumstances.
In an accident where the other driver’s insurance company is a party, cooperation is a matter that is highly subjective. Normally, the other driver’s insurance company will seek your cooperation to ensnare you. The firm will ask you to record a statement so that they look for loopholes to avoid settling your claims.
Understand that you are not under any obligation whatsoever to cooperate with the other driver’s insurance company. In situations where your cooperation is necessary, seek the services of a personal injury lawyer first. The lawyer should be present whenever you interact or make statements with the other insurance company. This will help you to escape from traps set by the legal representatives of the other driver to deny you compensation. Clues and other tips for deciding whether to cooperate or not exist.
Negotiate
Insurance companies aim to provide the lowest compensation that is achievable. These companies will offer low settlement amounts even after they have established the validity of your claims. The firms do this by applying an arbitrary formula to determine your claims. They may intentionally fail to factor in issues such as the extent of damage suffered to determine the claims.
To get the best deal, seek the services of a personal injury lawyer. The lawyer will:
- Evaluate the validity of your claim.
- Estimate the compensation due.
- Negotiate on your behalf, if authorized, for better compensation in case the insurance firm offers a mediocre sum.
Remain Time Conscious
Time is a crucial factor in filing for insurance claims. The longer you wait to make the claims the higher the chances of rejecting the claim. Insurance claims are subject to statute of limitations. This means that there is a certain time frame is for making claims. Making claims after the stipulated time nullifies the claim’s validity.
You will, therefore, need to study your policy quite carefully. The policy normally contains the time frame for filing for insurance compensations. It will be in your best interest to adhere to these time frames when reporting an accident. Otherwise, you will not be able to legally seek compensation after the elapse of the stipulated window.
Legal Assistance
Seeking for legal assistance could be a sure way to solidify your case. Seeking legal assistance is different from seeking the services of an attorney. The former implies that you utilize the services of the legal fraternity from the consultation to the representation stage in seeking compensation. The latter might just be limit you to seeking consultation services.
A legal team will assist you by:
- Responding to requests for information from your insurance company.
- Informing you of your rights.
- Handling the communication between you and your insurance company.
Seeking for legal assistance on commercial and 18 –Wheeler crashes increases the odds of securing a fair settlement agreement.
Consider the Services of a Legal Team Today
If you want to handle your insurance company better after an accident, there are some basic minimums you should satisfy. You will have to seek the services of an attorney. The attorney will guide you through the process of filing for a claim and negotiate for favorable compensation on your behalf. Bennett Injury Law in Texas has qualified professionals on personal injury claims. Contact us today and we will help you file for compensation claims with the utmost diligence it deserves.
