If you are in a motor vehicle accident, it won’t be long before you are making a claim with your insurance company.

How to File an Insurance Claim

When you are in a car accident, you likely have a lot of things going through your mind. This includes the wellbeing of everyone involved, as well as any necessary vehicle repairs. One of the first things that you will want to do after you receive immediate medical care, is to file an insurance claim.

Insurance companies often require that you notify them of an accident as soon as possible following the incident. While you want to comply with this, you also need to be careful about what you say or what details you give them. Avoid placing, or accepting blame, until you know the details of the accident. Instead, call and notify them that an accident has occurred.

Things to Avoid Saying to Your Insurance Company

While filing an insurance claim sounds simple enough, there are many challenges to also consider. Here are some things you should avoid during this process:

  • Don’t make a written or recorded statement until you understand the situation, your policy, and your coverage.
  • Don’t feel obligated to accept the initial estimate provided by the insurance company, as they are unlikely to know how severe the damages are yet.
  • Don’t sign anything until you are sure of what you are doing and have had an attorney provide you with guidance.
  • Never accept a “final payment” unless you are okay with the idea and the payment amount.
  • Don’t let your insurance company off the hook. You have coverage and they need to live up to the legal obligation of the policy.
  • Don’t admit blame. Never admit blame until you know all the details. Even if it looks like you are to blame, you don’t yet know what the other driver was doing.
  • Don’t minimize your injuries. Minimizing your injuries can make them believe that the accident was not that bad. Don’t minimize your injuries until you know how bad they are.
  • Don’t say you are injury-free. It is also not a good idea to say that you are injury-free, at least until you receive follow-up medical care.
  • Don’t give a monetary amount immediately. It is never a good idea to offer a monetary amount before you have discussed your case with a lawyer.
  • Don’t offer to make repairs. Even if you have a friend or spouse who works as a mechanic, your insurance entitles you to professional repairs, paid for by them.

Know your rights before talking with an insurance company. If you need a car accident lawyer to represent you, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can help you communicate with your insurance company, while also guiding you on the best ways to receive the compensation you deserve. We have worked successfully with many car accident victims.