The other driver’s insurance company has their reasons for when they want to contact you. In practically every instance, speaking with them is like playing with fire. Nothing good can ever come of it.
If you do talk to the other insurance company, there are mistakes that you can make that will cripple your case. Do not ever trust the other driver’s insurance company. Do, however, contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible after you have been hurt to protect your legal rights. Attorney Frank Hartman and his team at The Hartman Law Firm, LLC are the fighters you need to keep the insurance company at bay.
The Insurance Company Has Their Motivations in Trying to Speak with You
You can generally assume that the other driver’s insurance company is up to no good when they are trying to contact you. They are a for-profit business with their motivation of paying you as little as possible for your claim, or even nothing at all.
If the insurance company can get you on the record with some type of statement, they can use it against you in any way possible. Never put it past them to twist your words or take them out of context to significantly hinder and damage your claim.
The insurance company does not always make their intentions known when they contact you.
Sometimes, they may ask you to give a statement on the record. However, they are not always that transparent. They may call you just to “chat” and have a “friendly conversation.”
The adjuster always has an ulterior motive. No insurance company is doing anything for charitable purposes. Everything has a reason and intent behind it and seemingly, the motivation is never to pay you your full amount of damages.
The Other Insurance Company Can Easily Take Your Words Out of Context
If you agree to speak to the other driver’s insurer, they may ask you about your actions before the accident or your health in the days after.
You may make an innocent statement, such as “It’s okay, I don’t blame the other driver for what happened.” Right away, the insurance company is taking that to mean that you are holding them blameless and do not believe that they were negligent. The insurance company may ask you a simple question such as “How are you doing?” If you answer that question with “OK,” they may then dispute every single element of your injuries because they will claim that you said that you are fine.
Do I Have to Speak to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?
Again, there is no upside in speaking with the other driver’s insurance company. If they try to contact you, you should politely decline to speak with them. Do not be argumentative. You should not tell them anything about the accident or yourself.
The insurance company is going to act like they have you on the record and dead to rights if you say anything that can compromise your case. You would then find that your statements get twisted around and come into play when it is time for the insurance company to pay you.
Once you have said something, you cannot take it back. Even though it may not be considered physical evidence, your words would certainly be used against you at some point. The insurance company may then turn around and try to blame you, or they could try to reduce your settlement because they believe that you were partially at fault. They will be especially aggressive about trying to contact you early in the case when liability may not yet be determined because they want ammunition to use against you at any time.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer to Protect Yourself
The best way to protect yourself from the insurance company trying to pressure you is to hire an experienced auto accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. Any minute you or without a lawyer is one where your legal rights are at risk. The fact that you did not have counsel would not be an excuse when your words are being used against you.
The insurance company would need to go through your lawyer first. If they try to call you, your response should be, “Speak to my lawyer.” An attorney’s job is to protect you from insurance company overreach to preserve your legal rights to full compensation.
When you hire an experienced car accident lawyer, you have a professional voicing your needs through interactions with the other insurance company.
How Frank Protects Your Rights
If Frank Hartman is your attorney, insurance companies know better than to try to take advantage of and mistreat his clients because of his reputation. Frank knows how to keep the insurance company from overstepping in your case. His presence alone is enough to make insurance companies think twice before they try to pull any tricks on you.
If you hire Frank as your lawyer, he will immediately investigate your accident and help you gain control of the legal process. The insurance company won’t set the tone, nor can they call the shots when you have Frank on your side.
Contact a Charleston Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a car accident in South Carolina, time is of the essence when it comes to legal help. Your phone call to a lawyer is one that you simply can not delay.
Call The Hartman Law Firm, LLC today to get a fighter on your side who stops at nothing to uphold the rights our clients have to compensation. Frank will never send you a bill for his time or services. He is only paid if you are paid.
To schedule a free initial consultation, you can send us a message online, or you can call us today at 843.300.7600.