What Not to Say to the Insurance Company After an 18-Wheeler Accident

If you were involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you may be able to file a claim for compensation against the liable party. Filing a claim involves dealing with the insurance company representing the liable party, which is never easy. Shortly after the crash, an insurance adjuster will likely conduct an investigation and contact you. It is critical that you protect yourself during this initial conversation. The adjuster will look for anything to hold against you so the company does not have to pay full damages. Below are some of the most important things to avoid saying to the insurance company.

Do Not Provide a Recorded Statement 

Insurance adjusters are trained extensively in using the words of accident victims against them. They will ask you for a recorded statement so they can do just this. If you contradict something you said earlier, or something that was in the police report, they will use that to show that you are lying. If you make a mistake, they will also use this against you and say you are being dishonest, even though it was likely because you were shaken up from the crash. They are trained to ask you questions that can trick you into hurting your case, making inconsistent statements, or answering questions about your injuries when it is too soon to know the full extent of your injuries (they know that the nature of these types of injuries, like neck and back pain from whiplash following a car crash, often have a delayed onset and often become increasingly worse over time).

Do Not Sign a Medical Release 

The insurance adjuster will also ask you to sign a medical release. You should never agree to this. Signing a medical release allows the insurer to go through your medical records, looking for a pre-existing condition they can blame your injuries on, instead of the truck accident. Even if you have a pre-existing condition, you can claim compensation if the crash made it worse.

Do Not Agree to a Settlement 

After suffering injuries in a truck accident, the insurance company might contact you and make an offer of settlement saying they want to resolve things quickly and help you. They do this hoping that you will be so excited to receive anything at all that you will accept it. They may hope that you accept the money before you know the full extent of your injuries and medical treatment that you need. Once you accept a settlement, you usually release your legal claims and cannot come back later and ask for more money if your injuries are more serious than you first realized or if you need more medical treatment. Before agreeing to any settlement, make sure you have a San Antonio 18-wheeler accident lawyer review it first.

Do Not Agree to Use the Insurer’s Providers 

The insurance adjuster may provide you with the names of mechanics, auto body shops, and even medical providers. They will likely argue that these providers are the best at what they do and will treat you with dignity and respect, but you still should not use them. These providers work in the best interests of the insurance company, and not you. This means they may cut corners in an effort to save the insurer money or the mechanics and auto body shops may offer discounted prices on the repair of your vehicle, so the insurance company can then argue that, because of the cost of the repair to your vehicle or the damage to your vehicle was low, the impact was not severe enough to injure you or injure you as severely as you allege.

Do Not Apologize 

It is natural to want to apologize that the crash happened at all, but this is a mistake. The insurance adjuster will use any type of apology against you, saying that you must be at fault because you showed remorse for the crash.

Our 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer in San Antonio Can Speak to the Insurer on Your Behalf 

There are few things you should say to the insurance adjuster after a crash, but you should direct them to your San Antonio 18-wheeler accident lawyer. At the Law Office of Israel Garcia, our experienced attorney can speak to the insurance company on your behalf and negotiate for a fair settlement. Call us now at 210-LAW-9999 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal help you need.