After an auto accident, you will have to communicate with insurance companies, which can be stressful. You may be worried about saying the wrong thing or going back and forth, fighting for fair compensation. A Columbus car accident lawyer can assist you in dealing with insurance companies.
They can handle all of the communications with the liable parties, their insurers, and their representatives. This can take a great weight off your shoulders while seeking compensation.
A Car Accident Attorney Can Prepare You to Give a Statement to an Insurance Company
Whether you are filing an insurance claim or another driver is filing one with your provider, you may have to provide an official statement. A car accident lawyer can review your policy and prepare you to give a statement.
You can consult an auto accident attorney immediately after the incident to give you time to prepare for this. They will usually offer the following suggestions.
Do Not Admit to Fault
You should never feel like you have to admit fault when speaking with an insurance company. In fact, you shouldn’t even speculate on who bears the fault for the accident. There may be other liable parties that you have not considered.
For example, a negligent auto parts manufacturer may bear partial responsibility if they designed an unsafe product that contributed to your accident. There’s no way you would know about this without an investigation, though. That’s something a Columbus personal injury lawyer can conduct to help get to the bottom of who owes you compensation.
Be Careful What You Say and Stick to the Facts
Always be aware that an insurer may try to make what seems like small talk. Anything you say could come back to hurt your claim, though, so it’s important to stick to the bare facts about the accident, such as:
- The date and time the accident occurred
- The drivers and vehicles involved
- What you saw and heard at the time of the accident
- The damage done to the vehicle
Do Not Discuss Your Injuries
After a car accident, you will likely be seeing a doctor and beginning treatment for your injuries. It can take time to diagnose injuries, especially since some have latent symptoms. For example, whiplash symptoms may not manifest until days or weeks after an accident.
The last thing you want to do is say something that downplays your injuries. Insurance adjusters may also try to get you to answer what seems like commonplace questions, like “How are you feeling today?” Play it safe and avoid detailing how you feel or the extent of your injuries. Instead, you can simply say you are seeing a doctor.
A Car Collision Attorney Can Help if an Insurance Company Tries to Attribute More Blame to You
One of the other ways a car accident team can help is by contesting an insurance adjuster’s determination of fault. Sometimes, insurers may try to shift more of the blame for an accident onto a victim in an attempt to undervalue or deny their claim. If this is the case, a personal injury lawyer can conduct their own investigation and present evidence that accurately reflects your portion of the blame.
They can then argue for a fair settlement or take legal action to seek a court-awarded offer. They will do whatever it takes to seek fair compensation for your accident-related injuries.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You With Other Aspects of Your Case
Aside from handling the insurance companies, a car accident attorney can also help by:
- Investigating your accident to identify liable parties
- Gather evidence of negligence
- Gather evidence of your losses, such as medical bills and wage statements
- Handle all the paperwork for your claim or lawsuit
- Negotiate for fair compensation
- Represent you in a trial
Lawyers who handle car accident cases understand that victims may be going up against multi-million-dollar insurance companies that have their own teams of defense attorneys. This will not deter them from fighting for what you deserve, in or out of court.
You Can Afford a Car Accident Lawyer to Assist You in Dealing With Insurance Companies
You may be worried that you cannot afford to hire a car accident lawyer. Keep in mind that some personal injury law firms work on contingency. This means that they can take your case immediately without charging upfront fees or hourly retainers.
Instead, they simply take a percentage of your potential compensation at the end of your case. This way, you know they will be working hard for fair compensation. If you don’t get paid, they don’t.
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How to Protect Yourself When Dealing With Insurance Companies
Other ways to protect your case include seeking medical treatment immediately. Your doctor’s testimony and medical records will serve as key evidence in your car accident case.
For example, if your injuries will require ongoing medical treatment, you will want to seek a settlement or verdict that will account for that. You can’t do that without medical records.
Another way to protect your case is by starting it as soon as possible. According to Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. This doesn’t give your car accident lawyer much time to investigate and negotiate with insurers. The sooner you start, the better they can protect your right to take legal action against a liable party.
Call The Fitch Law Firm LLC for Assistance Dealing With Insurance Companies
Our car accident lawyers at The Fitch Law Firm LLC can do so much more than deal with insurance companies. We can handle your case from start to finish, allowing you time and energy to focus on your physical recovery.
Call us today for a free consultation.