Knowing how to deal with insurance companies
after a car accident is crucial to protecting
your rights and securing the maximum
possible compensation.
Although both Missouri and Illinois legally mandate that all motorists carry some type of liability insurance for their vehicles, many people often take out more insurance than the mandatory minimums in order to ensure that they and their families are protected when driving. Unfortunately, however, having car insurance does not necessarily mean that you will get a payout when you should, as insurance companies:
- Usually have their own interests and profit margins prioritized over accident victims’ needs and rights
- May look for ways to try to undervalue or even flat out deny claims against car insurance policies.
What this means is that motorists need to be extremely careful when dealing with insurance company agents after a car accident, as what driver say to these agents may later be used to try to weasel drivers out of the full amount of compensation that they deserve.
The following are the first two of five tips for dealing with insurance companies after a car accident. Following these tips can help you protect your rights and give you the best chances of receiving the maximum possible compensation for your claim:
- Tip 1: Only state the facts of the case – When you report the traffic accident to your insurer, you will likely be asked to make a statement regarding what happened leading up to, during and after the accident. As you make this statement, make sure that you only state the facts of the event – including when the event occurred, who was involved in the event and the damage to you and your vehicle. Avoid making judgments as to who was at fault, as this could open you up to some rigorous questioning and, in turn, cause you to say things you don’t mean to say.
- Tip 2: Keep a log of all of your correspondence with your agent – Make sure to keep copies of all of the letters and emails from your insurer and to keep a log of each call you have with your insurance agent. This log can be essential if you later have to prove that an insurer acted in bad faith when handling your car accident claim.
For some more essential tips for dealing with insurers after a car accident, be sure to read the upcoming Part 2 of this blog.
St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or in any type of motor vehicle accident, contact the St. Louis car accident lawyers at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law. We have a long-standing commitment to serving our clients, and we are experienced at aggressively defending our clients’ rights in any legal setting. Our goal is to preserve and promote the rights and welfare of individuals and families who have suffered injuries and losses and/or who need help navigating through the complexities of the court system.
Since 1993, our lawyers have been successfully representing our clients in various areas of personal injury litigation, including car accident lawsuits. Our unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice in every case we handle means that we will work relentlessly to help our clients achieve the best possible outcomes to their cases. One of our primary goals is to help accident victims secure the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and losses so they can focus on their recovery and moving on with their lives.
For a free initial consult, email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen and/or to call us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office.
