Victoria C. Swanson Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

When you submit a claim to an insurance company after an automobile accident, you will more than likely be contacted by an insurance adjustor whose job it is to investigate the claim.  Understand that the role of the adjustor is not to facilitate the claims process for you, but to try and mitigate the insurance company liability for losses.  What you say, and do not say, while speaking to an adjustor could play a large role in determining the amount of compensation you receive. 

It is advisable to seek help from a Colorado Springs car accident attorney, who can handle the task of communicating with an insurance company for you.  But if you choose to speak with an insurer yourself, following the guidelines below will help you avoid actions that could have a negative effect on your claim.

Record the details of all communications with an adjustor. 

If the correspondence is by mail or email, save a copy of the document.  When speaking on the phone to an adjustor, record the following information:

• The date and time of the call
• The name of the representative
• Who the adjustor is calling on behalf of
• The name, address and phone number of the insurance company

Limit what you say to an adjustor

The following personal information is safe to reveal to an insurance adjustor:

• Name
• Address
• Occupation
• Employer

Other information, such as details about your job and work duties, family members, or additional personal information, does not need to be divulged.  Car accident lawyers in Colorado Springs can advise you on what, specifically, to say to an adjustor.

Deny the adjustor’s request to record your conversation. 

When speaking to an adjustor, he or she will often request that you reveal details surrounding the cause of the accident.  If you inadvertently admit fault, in any way, it could be an insurmountable hurdle to receiving financial compensation.  Feel free to disclose information such as where and when the accident occurred and the vehicles involved, but do not discuss anything else, especially who was at fault, and do not consent to having the conversation recorded.

Do not discuss your injury

Give no details of your injury.  You may admit, for example, that you have a broken arm or cuts and bruises, but never minimize the extent of your injuries.  Some injuries are not discovered for a long time after an accident.  If you make a statement denying or minimizing your injuries, an insurer could use this against you later.

Do not rush to an early settlement

An early settlement offer by an adjustor may seem like a great deal but, again, it is important to remember whose interests the adjustor serves. It is difficult to know the full value of your claim early in the process, before you understand the extent of your injuries and how much they will cost you, and before you have had the chance to talk about your case with auto accident attorneys. If you accept an early settlement and later find out your injuries are more severe and more expensive than you originally thought, you will have no recourse.

Contact Sears & Strafford to speak with a Colorado Springs auto accident lawyer
Call us toll-free today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with an auto accident attorney in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (866) 695-5158 or (719) 471-1984.

Sears & Swanson, P.C.
First Bank Building
2 North Cascade Avenue
Suite 1250
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903