Four Tips for Dealing With Insurance Adjuster After a Car Accident Fl
If you have been injured in a Florida car accident, it is normal to feel confused and overwhelmed.
Due to the confusing nature of the process, many accident victims turn to the insurance adjuster for help after their accident. After all, who knows the claims process better than the insurance company? This is a big mistake. While representatives of the insurance company certainly understand the process, they will not have your best interests at heart. Instead, insurance adjusters will be looking out for the bottom line of the company. Fortunately, our firm is ready to help. To get you started, we have provided four of our best tips for handling the insurance company after a car crash.
- Report Your Accident Immediately
Car accident victims have a legal obligation to report their incident in a timely manner. First, under Florida law, the accident must be reported to the highway patrol. Additionally, the crash should also be reported to any affected insurance companies. Please protect your legal rights by reporting your crash as soon as possible.
- Do Not GIve a Recorded Statement
After reporting your accident, you should expect an insurance adjuster to ask for a recorded statement. While he or she may ask you in a manner that seems somewhat casual, you need to remain on guard. Remember: All conversations with insurance company representative are official. As such, you should not speak to the insurance company without first receiving guidance from an attorney. Insurance adjusters may come across as ‘fact finders’, but in reality, they are looking to build a case against you so that the company can limit your recovery or deny your claim outright.
- Do Not Sign Anything Without Speaking to an Attorney
Likewise, you should not sign any documents without first letting an experienced car accident attorney review the documents. Not only does this apply to any settlement offer you might receive, but also to a request for the release of your medical records. Often, insurance companies request many years of medical records from car accidents victims. However, they do not necessarily have a legal right to get that information. In fact, insurance companies may only seek records that are reasonably likely to be relevant to your accident claim. You should not let them dig through your entire medical history looking for a reason to take money out of your pocket.
- Never Accept the First Settlement Offer
Finally, all car accident victims should remember the following rule: The first settlement offer is rarely the best settlement offer. Insurance adjusters often dangle quick settlement offers in front of victims hoping to resolve the case immediately. The reason they do this is because they are trying to get you to agree to a low ball settlement offer before you get an attorney involved.
Were in Injured in a Tampa Auto Accident?
Please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Pawlowski//Mastrilli Law Group for immediate assistance. Our team will review your case free of charge and we will work aggressively to help you recover every penny that you rightfully deserve. We know how to hold the big insurance companies accountable. Our firm serves accident victims throughout the region, including in Balm, Sun City Center, Odessa, Wimauma and Oldsmar.
