There are many steps that should take place after a car accident, including receiving medical care and speaking with your attorney. What are the rules when it comes to talking to the other party’s insurance company after an accident? You must be extremely careful when you’re talking to the other party’s car insurance company because you do not want to sabotage your own personal injury case.

You Are Not Required to Speak with Them 

Many people believe that, once they receive that phone call, they must always answer it. However, you are not officially required to speak with the other party’s insurance company. Based on the facts of the accident, this is a consideration that you must think about before you make your choice. If there is a potential that you may be at fault for any percentage of the accident, it is important that you refuse to give a statement. If you have somebody who can speak on your behalf, you should always have them speak for you.

When Should I Speak with the Insurance Company?  

If the other party is clearly at fault and the official police report even states this, you may consider speaking with the insurance company. If you don’t speak with the other driver’s car insurance in these instances, it might take longer for them to complete their investigation and this could be a long time before you receive a settlement check. In cases where the accident was minor, you can also speak with the insurance company but should always be careful about what you say to them.

Tips for Talking with the Other Party’s Insurance Company

Don’t Downplay: Any insurance company is going to try to pay out as little as possible for your claim. The insurance company does not have your best interests in mind, which is why you want to be as protective as possible. This is why you don’t want to downplay your injuries when you are speaking with the insurance company. If your injuries aren’t minor, then be upfront about this so that you don’t miss out on compensation opportunities. 

Be Careful: Anything that you tell the other party’s insurance company could be used against you, which is why you want to be as careful as possible. You don’t want to reduce your claim or be barred from receiving anything at all.

Answer All Questions: Only answer the questions that are asked of you. Do not volunteer any information or agree to have your statement recorded so that, if the circumstances change, you can speak up about it. 

Don’t Guess: If you don’t know the information that is being asked of you, make sure that you tell the insurance company this instead of guessing and jeopardizing your claim.

Speaking with an Attorney After Your Accident 

After a car accident, you might have a variety of questions about what you should and shouldn’t do to make the most out of your claim. Our skilled car accident attorneys at Sheftall & Associates have worked diligently to ensure that victim’s rights are protected in their time of need. Never move forward without the dedicated help of an accident attorney. Please contact our skilled attorneys at 904-647-2296 for the help you deserve.