Insurance companies are in business to do one thing – make money. They do this by charging you the premiums you pay and more importantly, by handing out the absolute minimum they have to every time a customer gets into a negligent accident.
If you get into a car accident, the insurance representative will show up, smile, ask you to sign some documents that limit their liability and then, pay you the minimum. That’s his or her job, to pay you the least amount of money possible.
If you make a claim about a motorcycle accident, they will fight you tooth-and-nail to do what… pay you the minimum.
See the trend here?
If you’ve been involved in negligent personal injury accident, there are a number of things your insurance company absolutely definitely positively does not want you to know. But, since we’re such good citizens and care so much about you, we’re going to go ahead and tell you…
1. The insurance company is not on your side. Don’t underestimate the greed and sophistication of your insurance company. They are, in most cases, billion dollar companies with one thing in mind and it is not you. It’s money. Don’t let the insurance companies limit what you and your loved ones are entitled to.
2. Don’t sign anything. Whatever documents your insurance company puts in front of you… don’t sign it until you have talked to your attorney. Your insurance company may attempt to have you sign something to limit the amount of money you will receive – to limit the amount of money they’ll have to pay out. To make sure you are protected and to prevent your insurance company from taking advantage of you, make sure you talk to your personal injury attorney before you sign anything.
3. Gather as much information as you can about your accident. Take notes about the entire event and if you can – most phones these days have still and video cameras – take as many photographs of the scene as you can from as many directions and angles as possible – up-close photographs of the skid marks, wreckage, debris, intersection, street signs, and landmarks.
4. Keep all documents. Collect and safely store all medical records, insurance company correspondence, notes from witnesses, police reports – everything!
5. Don’t share any information about your accident with anyone. You are not legally obligated to share any information from your accident with anyone. If another party’s insurance representative asks you for information, he or she will only use it to pay you the least amount. Protect yourself. Don’t share anything with anyone. If they ask, tell them to contact your personal injury attorney.