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It is an unfortunate reality that auto accidents occur at an astonishing rate in Washington State and throughout the United States. With the potential shock, injuries and property damage associated with a car accident comes the inevitable battle with the insurance company. To make sure you don’t lose your rights when it comes to being injured in a traffic collision, here are seven tips on how you can protect yourself and beat the odds from the insurance company.
1. Identify all witnesses so that you have someone to back up your case when you go to court.
2. Get all contact information from witnesses at the scene. When you interview them, ask them what they saw and make a note of phrases they “slammed in,” “plodded,” “speeding,” or “he ran a red light.” Some people believe that there are insurance companies that send adjusters to the scene of accidents to catch people off guard, ask probing questions or ask them to sign over any rights to compensation in the future. Can go Therefore, beware of insurance representatives at the accident site. To avoid being asked about your injury by an adjuster, schedule a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible after the accident.
3. Many attorneys are frequently asked by adjusters, “If your client was really hurt, why did he wait so long to see a doctor?” If you have been injured in an auto accident in Washington, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Immediately after the accident, take pictures of your car.
4. The photo taken of your car at the scene of the accident is evidence that is difficult to dispute. Photos of the damage will help tell your story. If you can, take pictures of the other cars involved in the accident. Some people keep a small, inexpensive camera in their glove compartment for these types of situations. Also, many cell phones are equipped with camera features and can be used for this purpose. Also, take pictures of your injuries before they heal. Bruises and other injuries take several weeks and months after the accident to heal. When the insurance adjuster is arguing that the accident was not very significant, photographs of your injuries and other injuries will help strengthen your injury claim. Keep notes about your injuries.
5. As the weeks or months pass after the accident, you may forget how much it hurt just to get dressed, and the adjuster will try to make it sound like any details you give are exaggerated. Keep track of any pain medications that you may be prescribed for your injuries. Receive letters from your employer and family describing how the injury has changed your life. These types of written documents are invaluable when presenting your claim to an insurance adjuster or to a judge and jury in court. Keep receipts, as the adjuster will ask for proof of anything you claim as an expense.
6. You must definitely keep receipts for essential household services like prescriptions, injuries sustained in an accident, car rental etc. The insurance adjuster may try to tell you that your claim is much less than it actually is.
7. It is very common for an injured victim not to know the real value of his claim. And an adjuster will try to make you believe that your claim is much less than it actually is. It is the adjuster’s job to save the insurance company money by settling your claim for the least amount possible. The adjuster will try to downplay your claim, so you may want to seek help elsewhere to determine the true value of your claim. Bottom line: The insurance company is not on your side.
The goal of the insurance company is to make as much money as possible. They do this by paying you as little as possible for your injuries.
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