After a car accident, there are various steps you should take to ensure your physical safety. These include moving your car out of traffic if possible, checking for injuries, and calling 911. However, there are steps that you can take to ensure your financial safety as well. Those steps include taking pictures of the accident scene, getting the contact information of any witnesses, exchanging insurance information of the other driver, and making sure that you do not admit fault for the accident. That last point is particularly important because admitting or implying that you were even partially at fault for the accident could hurt you later on.
Another step that you will take after an auto accident is dealing with your insurance company. They will want to get a statement from you, but in the aftermath of the accident, you may not know what to say to them. That is why you should take another important step soon after the accident, which is calling an experienced attorney. A lawyer can help you in many different ways, one of which is dealing with the insurance company on your behalf. If you live in Miami, then there is more information here on how a lawyer can help you with your auto claim.
Dealing With The Insurance Company After a Car Accident
Sometime after your car accident, the insurance company will call to ask you for a recorded statement. Even if you feel that you are not in a state to provide such a statement, you are legally obligated to do so because of a clause written in the fine print of your auto insurance contract. If you do not provide a recorded statement, then your lack of cooperation could render your policy void and you will not be able to collect your insurance.
You may be worried about what questions the insurance representative will ask and how to answer them, but you don’t have to be. If you hire a lawyer, then you can ask the insurance company to speak to them instead. This is a good move because the insurance company has to comply with your request. Plus your attorney will have more experience dealing with insurance companies than you do, so they will be better equipped to negotiate with them.
Negotiations are necessary because insurance is a profit-driven business, much like any other. That means they will always try to make a profit and they do not make a profit by giving their customers huge payouts all the time. They will try to offer you the lowest possible payout which, in many cases, will be less than what you need. That is why having a professional attorney negotiate in your stead will increase your chances of getting a bigger payout, one that can actually cover the expenses caused by your auto accident.
How a Lawyer Can Help You With Your Auto Claim
When you suffer a car accident, you will be dealing with someone from the insurance company to file an auto claim, and despite what they might say or what you might think, they will have the interests of the insurance company in mind. However, a lawyer will have your interests in mind, which means that they will fight to get you the payout that you deserve.
When dealing with the insurance company yourself, they will try various different tactics to try and get you to settle for the lowest payout possible. They are banking on your desperation and inexperience so that you will accept whatever payment they offer to you. An attorney can see through their tricks and will negotiate a settlement claim that more adequately covers your accident-related expenses.
An Experienced Attorney Is Invaluable
There is a lot at stake when filing an auto claim after a car accident. It is possible that there will be repair bills, medical costs, and other expenses to worry about. That is why you may not be ready to deal with the insurance company in the aftermath of your accident. Fortunately, you do not have to. If you hire an attorney to deal with the insurance company on your behalf, then you have a much higher chance of getting a payout that can take care of your expenses. So make sure to retain an attorney after an accident; you can be certain that you, and not the insurance company, will be their top priority
