Following a car accident, especially one where you sustained injuries, you will probably have to speak with the other driver’s insurance company. Considering that the other driver’s insurance company will have a vested interest in minimizing their covered individual’s share of the fault, you should know how to conduct yourself. For more information on how you speak with an insurance adjuster, please read on, then contact an experienced New York City car accident lawyer soon. When you have to speak with a New York insurance adjuster, you should:
Hire a personal injury attorney
Unless you have hired a skilled New York City personal injury lawyer, you should never speak with an insurance company. Insurance companies are businesses and, like many businesses, they care more about their bottom line than you obtaining the financial compensation you deserve and need to recover from your injuries. Without a lawyer working on your behalf, you may not receive all the damages you are entitled to.
Obtain and provide evidence
Insurance adjusters have a financial incentive to trick you into contradicting yourself or downplaying your injuries. To support your claims, you should obtain medical records and bills concerning your injuries, documenting the extent of your injuries and the damages you have sustained. Having a lawyer present during these conversations can ensure that you answer the insurance adjuster’s questions accurately and without compromising your claim.
Work with an auto body shop you trust
Oftentimes, the other party’s insurance company will try to send you to a specific auto body shop. In many cases, the other party’s insurance company collaborates with these auto body shops for the express purpose of giving you an estimate that does not fully cover the cost of the damage to your car. Thankfully, you do not have to follow these recommendations and may work with an auto body shop that you know and trust.
File a lawsuit in a timely fashion
Initially, many insurance companies will offer you a settlement for less than your case is worth. If you should deny this settlement offer, you can expect the insurance company to go silent. Most likely, they will do this in the hopes that you will allow the statute of limitations to expire. In New York State, you have three years, from the date of the underlying accident, in which to file a claim. If you wait any longer than that, you will forever lose the right to seek financial compensation. Make sure you file a personal injury claim within that timeframe.
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