So you’ve been in an auto accident. One of the first phone calls you’ll make will be to your insurance company. You may assume that since they’re your insurance company, they’re on your side but that’s not always the case. Remember that they have a single goal: Paying out as little in claims as possible. That goal can be in direct conflict with your goals after an accident. Here are five things to never do when talking to your insurance accident. Read them, memorize them, and remember to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas for your free legal consultation.
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Don’t say you were at fault
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Don’t ask them for legal advice
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Don’t allow them to record your conversation
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Don’t lie
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Don’t discuss your injuries
Never admit or project fault. You do want to give information on the accident but you should avoid all opinion based statements that may hurt you in the long run. This includes fault. Remember that you don’t want to say anything that could be used to deny a claim to you.
You’ll likely have a lot of questions about your rights but remember that your insurance company is just that – an insurance company. If you have legal questions about a car accident then you should be talking to a lawyer. It’s true that your insurance agent will know quite a bit about the insurance side of things, but they’re not going to be much help when it comes to answering any of your legal questions.
It’s common for insurance companies to request that you give them a recorded statement. If they ask, just tell them no. You don’t want to give any recorded statement until you’ve talked to your attorney. Remember that once it’s on record, you can’t take it back and you can’t change your mind. A better option is a written statement that you prepare with your attorney.
In some cases, it may seem easier to tell a small lie than the truth. However, this is not a good idea because anything that’s not true can be used against you in the event of a lawsuit. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you need to volunteer every detail you remember about the accident. If you’re not sure what it’s wise to disclose, contact a personal injury attorney right away.
It’s almost impossible to understand the nature and seriousness of injuries immediately after an accident. You may have an injury you don’t even know about yet because it hasn’t presented itself, or you may have what seems like a minor injury that could get worse over the next few days or weeks. If you announce early on that you weren’t injured or that your injuries were minor, then you could have trouble proving an injury later down the road.
At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we can help you decide what information to disclose and what to keep to yourself. Contact us today at 909-982-0707 for your free consultation.
