Are you smarter than your insurance company?

And are you smarter than an attorney? (especially a really experienced personal injury attorney?) Well, maybe we shouldn’t have phrased it quite that way.

But we’ve all probably at least heard of the TV program, “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?”

The answer on the TV show is sometimes obvious (although not always) and that can prove to be a bit embarrassing for the contestants. The show is all in good fun, though, and winnings go to charities.

Accidents are a hassle

But “fun” is definitely NOT the operative word when you are dealing with an accident. Whether you were hit by a drunk driver, or the victim of a hit-and-run incident, or in a simple collision (if there is such a thing) in commute traffic, you are still faced with the challenges of dealing with an insurance company. Even if it is your very own insurance company – the one to whom you have been paying premiums likely for years.

So let’s talk about whether you should hire an attorney to deal with that and other issues when you’ve been in an accident.

Reporting a claim to your insurance company

First of all, the fun begins when you call your insurance company. Your insurance agent (if you have one) or local office generally refers you to a central toll-free number to report the claim. The Claims center does not know you. They have no personal relationship with you. They don’t know if you’re a good citizen and take care of your mother and buy holiday gift wrap from the neighborhood kids for the annual school fundraiser.

Role of the insurance company

Basically, the Claims center does intake on your accident claim and processes paperwork. The employees are on the payroll of the insurance company, and the goal of that company is to generate profits. One way of doing that is to reduce expenses. Paying out on claims is an expense. Therefore, it’s in the best interests of the insurance company to pay you the minimum amount that they can pay.

How you respond to questions is importan

Most people are not intimately familiar with insurance terminology. Most people barely understand the terms of auto insurance coverage, or the conditions under which payments are made on an insurance policy. (By the way, for no other reasons than that, it’s a good idea to hire us to represent you!)

As we said before, even in a simple conversation with an insurance company, you may say things that later might make it difficult to reach a favorable settlement. That applies not only to your own insurance company, but especially to the insurance company that represents the other driver.

What is okay to tell the insurance company?

When you are reporting the claim, the details are likely still very fresh in your mind. That’s a good thing. The bad thing is that your emotions and mental state about the incident are also very fresh, and that may lead to statements that might be better left unsaid.

The phrase used on another TV program by a detective in a trench coat comes to mind: “Just the facts, ma’am.” Concise, factual responses are best.

If you have an opinion, it’s best NOT to express it. In the parlance of TV detectives, “What you can and do say might be held against you.”

We deal with insurance companies every day

Remember, there are legal issues involved in any accident. Hire a professional who can best deal with insurance companies and protect your rights. Someone educated in the technicalities of the law, who understands the process surrounding legal issues, and has experience dealing with the myriad of questions that come up. Even if everything seems to be an exception in your case.

Let us help. We can review your coverage, counsel you on the process, discuss your options, and all with no up-front costs. Look over our website and call us today for a free consultation: (360) 693-2919.