Don’t Give Too Much Information to the Insurance Company | Don’t Talk to Others on the Scene about What Happened
When you’ve been hurt in a car, truck or motorcycle wreck, you have the right to file a legal claim to recover full and fair compensation for all your injuries. That includes any lost wages or income, medical expenses not covered by insurance, pain and suffering, and any property damage or loss. You also have the right to be compensated for your inability to do some of the things you enjoyed before the accident, or to engage in the simple pleasures of life because of your injuries.
The steps you take in the minutes, hours, days and weeks after your accident can have a significant impact on your ability to get adequate compensation for your losses. Here are come of the things you don’t want to do:
- Don’t give any insurance company or employee any more information than absolutely necessary—You obviously need to notify your insurer in a timely manner. The sooner you hire legal counsel, though, the sooner your attorney can be your liaison with insurance company personnel. Be prepared for fairly aggressive behavior from your insurer. They may make a quick offer, but tell you that it’s only good for a short period of time. They may contact you repeatedly in an attempt to get you to accept the offer. That typically means that they know it’s less than you deserve. They may act very friendly and start asking general questions, but they’re always looking for evidence to diminish, delay or deny your claim.
- Don’t talk to anyone at the scene of the accident unless you have to—In the immediate aftermath of an accident, you’ll have adrenaline running through your body. You may be inclined to say things without thinking about them in advance. Some of those communications can come back to haunt you. It’s okay to talk with police officers, but keep your responses brief and to the point. The same holds true with respect to medical personnel. The more you talk to others, the greater the likelihood that you’ll say something that will be used against you in court.
Contact Howard D. Popper, P.C.
At Howard D. Popper, P.C., we can help protect your rights. For a free initial consultation to discuss your options after a motor vehicle accident injury, contact our office online or call 973-993-8787 to set up an appointment. We have offices in Morristown and Newton.
We handle all personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis. You won’t pay any attorney fees unless we recover damages for your losses.