What tricks do insurance companies use to downplay car accident claims?

If you were in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, it may be difficult to get the compensation you need to cover medical costs, lost wages and other expenses accrued from your crash.

Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with, even your own. When reporting your crash to your own insurance company, you should only provide the essential details and keep your comments to a minimum.

Be careful when dealing with the other driver’s insurance company. If they have any questions, simply redirect them to an experienced car accident attorney.

Don’t speak to the at-fault driver’s insurance company

You may be contacted by the other driver’s insurance company, but you should never speak to them under any circumstance. That’s because they will ask a lot of questions, and some of them may seem innocuous. Here’s why they’re not:

  • Your statements can be used against you: When the at-fault drivers insurance company contacts you, your phone call will likely be recorded. The insurance company will look for any admittance of fault, subtle admittance of fault, and statements regarding your injuries. Some crash victims feel fine after a crash and make the mistake of disclosing that to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Injury symptoms could set in days later. We often see this with whiplash and mild traumatic brain injuries.
  • They will shift the blame on you: Insurance companies are notorious for shifting blame onto crash victims. They have a way of even convincing you to unknowingly admit fault by asking trick questions.
  • You won’t be compensated to the fullest extent: Insurance companies are crafty when it comes to how they save money and make your claim go way. They don’t mind losing a little bit of money to save more. They’ll do this by convincing you to accept a lowball settlement offer. Once you accept it, it’s game over. That means you will end up paying remaining medical bills out-of-pocket. You won’t be compensated for lost wages.

Why you should speak to a car accident attorney

Instead of speaking to the at-fault driver’s insurance company, it’s best to consult with an experienced car accident attorney first. Your attorney acts as a buffer between you and the insurance company.

With the Seattle attorneys at Aaron Engle Law on your side, the insurance companies can’t play their tricks on you. We know how to deal with them and negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf.

Contact us online or call us at (206) 623-7520 to schedule your free consultation.