What Should You Not Say to Your Insurance Company After an Accident?

Have you recently been in a car accident in St. Louis? If so, one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your right to compensation is to know what not to say to the insurance companies. In fact, the best advice is to say nothing and let our car accident attorneys handle it instead.

Despite what the insurance adjuster may tell you, the insurance company is not on your side. Their job is not to get you the fair compensation you need for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Their goal is to maximize the insurance company’s profits by paying out as little money as they can get away with.

Do not let them deny valid claims or use insurance company delay tactics to avoid paying full and fair compensation.

How Insurance Companies Use Your Words to Limit Your Compensation

How insurance companies deny claims varies on a case-by-case basis. However, one of the main ways they do this is by using accident victims’ words against them.

The insurance company may contact you following the accident, seeking details about what happened. Or they may question you as soon as you file a claim, depending on the process by which you file.

By asking you about the accident, the insurer is trying to get you to say something it can use to shift the blame for the accident onto you. For example, they may ask how fast you were traveling as a way to get you to say you were going above the speed limit. Or they may twist your words to imply something you did not actually say.

Should You Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company?

Be especially careful if an insurance company asks you to record your conversation. The reason the insurer wants your statements recorded is so they can use them against you later on, such as by pointing out an inconsistency in your story.

While your insurance policy may include a contractual obligation that you cooperate with the insurer’s investigation, you are under no such obligation with the other driver’s insurance provider. In either case, strongly consider getting help from a lawyer before you say anything on the record.

How to Protect Your Rights When Speaking with an Insurance Adjuster

One of the biggest mistakes to avoid when talking to insurance adjusters is not having a car accident lawyer present. If you do not have an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side when speaking with an insurance adjuster, you have no one to protect you from the tactics insurance companies use in the claims process.

A lawyer can prevent the insurance adjuster from asking invasive questions and prevent you from providing additional details that are not necessary and could hurt your insurance claim.

Why You Should Let Our Lawyers Handle Insurance Company Communications

The lawyers of Sumner Law Group, LLC, have over 50 years of combined legal experience in St. Louis and throughout Missouri. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients through negotiated settlements and trial verdicts. Our personal injury attorneys have developed a reputation among insurance companies as a law firm that will not back down from fighting for our clients’ rights.

Contact our firm for a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys.