If you were hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, one of your next steps is to contact a personal injury lawyer in Spartanburg, SC. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your losses. An experienced lawyer can help you pursue a timely claim and protect your legal rights.
How to Communicate with an Insurance Adjuster After an Accident
After you have been injured in an accident, the negligent party’s insurance company will likely try to contact you. What you say to an insurance adjuster can have a big impact on the settlement you receive. Here are some tips for communicating with an insurance adjuster.
Be polite and respectful. If you have been injured in an accident due to another person’s negligence, you understandably may feel angry. However, that does not mean you should yell or be rude to the insurance adjuster. Doing so will not help you receive a fair settlement. If you remain calm and treat the adjuster with respect, he or she may handle your claim more efficiently.
Only provide basic information about the accident. When questioned about the accident, stick with the facts and don’t provide too many details. For example, you may tell the adjuster when and where the accident occurred and which parties were involved. Don’t exaggerate details or make guesses.
Avoid giving details about your injury. During your conversation, an insurance adjuster may ask questions about your injury. However, you don’t have to answer them. A personal injury lawyer in Spartanburg, SC would actually advise you against answering questions regarding your injury. You might not fully understand your injury in the beginning and the type of treatment you require.
Don’t admit fault. Even if you believe you’re partially at fault for the accident, you should never tell an insurance adjuster that. The insurance company may use this information later on to justify giving you a lower settlement.
Resist the urge to accept the first settlement offer. Sometimes insurance companies offer accident victims settlement offers when first speaking to them. While it may be tempting to accept the offer and get your case over with, resist the urge. You don’t know the full extent of your injuries yet and the initial settlement offer may be too low.
If you suffered injuries in an accident, schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Spartanburg, SC, like one from Poliakoff & Associates, P.A.