Overturning a Conviction

If you have been injured in an accident and you want to file an injury claim, the first contact the insurance company makes with you may set the tone for further dealings. Here are a few tips to help you handle this first contact so that everything runs smoothly after that.

Know the Person You Are Talking To

The first step is to identify to whom you are speaking; do this before giving out any information. Note their name, the insurance company they represent, the company's address, and any information you can use to contact them. This way you not only know exactly who you are dealing with, but you can also give the information to your lawyer later on.

Don't Give Out Injury Details

It's important not to give out any details of the accident, your injuries, your property damages, or your medical treatment in this first contact. Rather, you should only give your identifying personal information. Some of the details you can safely give out include your name, phone number, and address. You can also confirm whether you were involved in the accident mentioned. However, don't discuss your life by mentioning where you work, the hours you work, how many people you live with, and so on and so forth. The adjuster can easily use this information to limit your damages.

Don't Settle Your Claim

It is always a bad thing to settle your claim with the first call even if the adjuster makes an "attractive offer."  When an adjuster makes an offer, they start low because they expect you to negotiate up. Therefore, if the adjuster has made what looks to you as an attractive offer, they probably know something about your case that you don't, and this is what has made them make the offer. Instead, politely decline the offer and inform the adjuster that you will get back to them later.

Record the Relevant Information

When speaking to the adjuster, it's best to have a notepad next to you and record the relevant details from the conversation. Some of the things to record include the identification of the caller, the company they represent, any offer made, any personal questions you have been asked, and any information you have given the adjuster. Human memory is fickle and you can easily forget about these details if you don't record them. That would be unfortunate because you need the information when discussing your case with a lawyer or when crafting your demand letter.

Reach out to personal injury attorney services for more information.