If you have been in an automobile accident you will be interviewed by both an adjuster from your own insurance company and by an adjuster from the other party’s insurance company. You may also be interviewed, at some point, by an investigator. The adjusters/investigators are trying to minimize the amount of money that their company will be obligated to pay.
When you contact your insurance company following an accident, or if a representative from the insurance company contacts you, follow these tips to make sure you do not jeopardize your no-fault or personal injury claim during these phone interviews.
Do
- Write down the name, address, and phone number of the insurance adjustor and insurance company.
- Provide your full name, address and telephone number. Take notes and of the conversation.
- Ask the adjuster if they are aware of any witnesses.
- Be very general when you describe your injuries.
- Tell the adjuster you will provide a complete, detailed, medical description of your injuries after you and your doctors have done a full assessment.
Don’t
- Do not agree to an audio tape recording of the conversation. Insurance adjustors will engage you in an informal conversation in an effort to relax you and get as many details about the accident as possible.
- Do not discuss anything but the basic facts of the accident:
- where the accident occurred;
- Date and time of the accident;
- type of accident ? motor vehicle, slip and fall.
- You do not need to provide details about your work, such as income, schedule or details of what you do at your job. Do not agree to anything.
Do not Sign Anything
- Don’t answer family questions. You are under no obligation to give any information about your family.
- You are not obligated at this point to identify witnesses.
- You are not obligated to give the adjuster the name of your doctor.