Usually the insurance
adjuster or the legal representative of the at-fault driver will call you as
soon as you reach home after an accident or perhaps even if you are still in
the hospital. In such a situation it is prudent to understand how you should
react to such a call. Here are some dos and don’ts of a phone conversation as
suggested by Leesburg, VA accident lawyers and the best in the business can be
obtained by using this standout virtual creation: Accident.USAttorneys.com.
Remain polite and calm
Often you are overwhelmed
with an urge to vent your anger on the insurance adjuster because of your
injuries and the accident. This will definitely not help when you expect the
adjuster to compensate for your injuries. It is wise to maintain civility even
if the adjuster says something you do not like. The bottom line is that you
have much to lose if you misbehave. Often your politeness is repaid by a prompt
release of funds from the adjuster.
Try to learn the
identity of the person with whom you are conversing
Accident attorneys in
Virginia suggest that before you commence serious discussion about the claim
get to know more about the name, profession, and the insurance company, person
or business they represent, and so forth.
Give limited personal
details
At this stage legal
experts recommend that you do not reveal any personal information other than
your name, address, phone number, and your place of work. Do not divulge
details like your salary or the kind of job you hold. No, do not tell them how
much your 401k is worth!
Do not divulge details
of the accident yet
Insurers will often try
to make you give a statement as to how the accident actually happened. On the
other hand they may try to engage you in a conversation in an effort to learn
how the accident happened in a very subtle and indirect fashion. You must
however desist from giving out any information. Leesburg, VA accident lawyers proclaim
that you must give the bare minimum information at this stage.
Have you seen the movie
Lethal Weapon II? This is not the time to talk like Leo Getz. Leo had no
problem with talking and talking. He had no problem with divulging all sorts of
information. Leo had no issues with talking even though the surrounding
audience had no interest really in what he was saying. You do not want to talk
like this about the accident to the insurer. This is the time to be
circumspect.
Only reveal when and
where the accident happened, details of the vehicles that were involved, and
the details of witnesses. Never say anything more and let the insurer’s
representative know that the accident is under investigation and that you will
reveal more at a later date. The details of the accident must accompany the
demand letter for compensation.
Do not blow a hole in
your case. Do not undercut your legal representative. Do not be a Leo Getz
either.
Do not give details of
your injuries
You must never divulge
the extent of your injuries at this stage. This is because you might have a few
superficial injuries but may suffer from long term health issues that have not
been discovered yet.
Take notes
Make a note of all the
information you received from the insurer. Also note the information that you
rendered and the details of the request made by the insurer.
Do not give in to the
pressure of settling immediately
You may be tempted to
settle as soon as the insurer makes an offer but it would be wise not to do so
without legal counsel. This is because the insurer is potentially trying to
save themselves from the hassle of negotiations and lawsuits and thousands and
thousands of dollars.
You have the right to claim compensation for the auto accident and often settlements that are concluded hastily do
not provide sufficient compensation. You may suffer from health problems
stemming from the injury after you have received the payout, following which
you won’t be able to make a claim. Moreover you may be able to attain much more
if you have your legal counselor negotiate the terms on your behalf.
Make sure not to
provide any recorded statements. You are not on a talk show. Moreover you must
ask the insurance provider to meet with you personally for a detailed
discussion of the payout package without rendering much information over the
phone.
If you have suffered physical trauma and financial losses due
to an auto accident it would be in
your best interest to engage the services of a Virginia accident lawyer. Your
legal rep. will immediately manage the negotiations with the insurer or take
your case to court, if necessary. Be flexible. Do not act like you are in
desperate financial straits. When speaking to the other side, maintain a poker
face.
Contact us if you want.
We will help put you in solid legal hands.
No comments:
Post a Comment