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After suffering injuries in a car accident in Michigan, you might receive a call from the at-fault driver’s insurer. As this is the company you will file your injury claim with, you might think they are reaching out to help process your claim more efficiently. However, even though they may present themselves as concerned for your well-being, it would be a mistake to assume that the insurance adjuster is on your side.
Insurance companies are for-profit entities whose primary concern is minimizing the amount they have to pay out when someone files a claim. As such, the main purpose of any communication they initiate is to find ways to reduce or deny your compensation. Here is what you should do if you receive a “courtesy call” from someone else’s car insurance company.
Do Not Agree to a Recorded Statement
When an insurance adjuster calls you, they may request that you provide a recorded statement about the accident. They might frame this as a routine part of the claims process, but agreeing to a recorded statement is never in your best interest. The insurance company can use anything you say in the statement to dispute your claim, and even an innocent mistake or inconsistency could jeopardize your ability to recover the compensation you deserve.
The best course of action is to politely decline to provide a recorded statement and direct the adjuster to speak with your attorney. If you have not yet hired a lawyer, let them know that you will not discuss the accident until you have legal representation.
Avoid Admitting Fault
Another tactic insurance adjusters use is to ask leading questions that trick you into admitting fault for the accident. They may ask if you saw the other driver before the collision or if there was anything you could have done to avoid the crash. Even if you believe you were partially at fault, it is crucial not to admit this to the insurance company.
Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means that your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If the insurance company can get you to admit fault, even unintentionally, it could significantly hurt your claim. While we would not recommend ever speaking with the other driver’s insurance adjuster, if you do, make sure you stick to the most basic facts of the accident, such as time, date, location, and the names of the individuals involved. Avoid speculation or opinions about who was to blame.
Speak to an Attorney Before Accepting a Settlement
In some cases, the insurance company may offer you a settlement soon after the accident, before you have even finished treating your injuries. While it may be tempting to accept this initial offer and put the whole ordeal behind you, settling too early is rarely a good idea.
The full extent of your losses may not be apparent until you have reached maximum medical improvement, which could be months or even years after the accident. If you accept a settlement before you know how much your claim is actually worth, you may end up with far less money than you need to cover your expenses and compensate you for your injuries. Always speak to an experienced car accident attorney before accepting any settlement offer from an insurance company.
Contact Davis Law Center
Handling communications with insurance companies is one of the most challenging and frustrating aspects of filing a car accident injury claim. When you work with an experienced Michigan car accident attorney, they can deal with the insurance adjuster and guard against any unscrupulous attempts to undermine your claim.
The legal team at Davis Law Center has more than 30 years of experience negotiating fair settlements with insurance companies, and we have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. Furthermore, we are unafraid to take a case to court if the insurer refuses to offer you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
Davis Law Center: your trusted partner for personal injury accident cases. Serving Detroit, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Macon County, Wayne County, Oakland County, and all of Michigan.