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The Insurance Adjuster Asked Me to Record a Statement. Should I Do It?

You’d be surprised by the number of people who will want to get in contact with you after you are involved in an injury accident. Unfortunately, not all of these people will be on your side. One of the most common calls you will get will be from the insurance company of the other party. These calls are a normal part of the process, but they do require special care to handle. Below are a few tips to help you handle those calls.

Don’t Dodge the Call!

One of the most important things you can do after an accident is to take a call from the other side’s insurance company. While you might be nervous about talking to someone about the accident, there’s a very good chance that the other insurance company will reach out to you for some kind of information.

One mistake that’s easy to make is to assume that everything needs to be handled in court. A great deal of the communication before any kind of accident trial will happen between individuals or their attorneys, so don’t forget to do your part. Once you are willing to take the call, you’ll be able to do a great deal of work to help your own case.

Take Down the Information

Once the phone call occurs, you’ll be inundated with information. In some cases, this is done on purpose to make you lose your composure. If you’re careful, though, you’ll be able to gather a great deal of information to help your case. Don’t forget to keep a pen and pad of paper handy – what you hear may be important later.

Make sure to log every call from the other insurance company. Write down the date and time of each call, as well as a few notes on what you’ve discussed. If possible, get the name of the person with whom you spoke. This might be important if you choose to pursue a lawsuit. Even if you don’t go forward with a suit, you might need this information to hold the other company to its promises.

Don’t Be Pressured

There are many tactics that an insurance company may use to try to pressure you to settle. In some cases, they’ll try to act like they are on your side. In other cases, they might even try to threaten you. What you must remember, though, is that you have all the power in this situation.

While most insurance companies are more than willing to do things above board, few are willing to tell you your rights. If you make a poor assumption, that’s not their fault. As such, it’s a great idea to make sure you are aware of your power in the situation. If anyone tells you that you are required to take a settlement offer, they are lying. If anyone tell you that you have no right to go to trial, they are trying to put something over on you.

The moment you feel like you are under pressure, end the call. You can take this information and bring it to your attorney to figure out your next move.

Call an Attorney

Once you’ve got the phone call, time may start ticking. The insurance company might put a time limit on its offer and you’ll need advice as soon as possible. Again, it’s important that you don’t feel pressured – but it is important to act.

When you meet with your potential personal injury attorney, make sure you are open about the fact that a settlement has been offered. The attorney cannot tell you that you should or should not take the settlement, but he or she will tell you if the settlement seems reasonable. It’s up to you to decide if you are willing to settle, but it’s always a good idea to get the opinion of a professional before you make any kind of financial decision.

Getting a call from the other side’s insurance company is a normal part of dealing with a personal injury suit. Always be willing to take the call, to take notes, and to stand your ground. Once you’ve got the information you need, you’ll be able to work with an attorney to make the right decision for your future.

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