If you have ever been involved in a car accident in Florida, you might already know that every accident involves insurance companies. The extent of their involvement depends on the severity and circumstances of the crash and the type of coverage you have from the company. Regardless of the circumstances, a car insurance company will become involved after a Florida car accident.
Having insurance coverage can give you the peace of mind that the losses you incurred from the accident will be covered by the insurance provider. However, does it really feel that way in every case?
Insurance companies earn revenues by offering protection to individuals in case of accidents and injuries. The provider does not profit from paying out accident claims. Ironically, doing the one thing that they are supposed to do when you are in an accident is what hurts their profits.
If you have been involved in a car accident, you can expect the insurance company for the at-fault driver or your insurance provider to try to save as much money as possible. Insurance companies typically do this by offering a settlement that is worth far less than the full value of your claim, denying your coverage, delaying the investigation for your claim, and even by using intimidation tactics to have you accept a settlement that does not cover all your accumulated and future costs.
Some insurance companies even resort to engaging in bad faith insurance practices to save money.
It does not matter how trustworthy the insurance company representatives present themselves to be. Most of them operate intending to keep the payouts to as little as possible and preserve the company’s profits.
Knowing how to deal with insurance companies after a Florida car accident is critical when seeking a desirable outcome. This post will serve as a guide to help you understand some useful tips for dealing with insurance companies after a Florida car accident.
5 Tips for Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Florida Car Accident
Insurance claims adjusters often make you believe that they are completely on your side when you must deal with them. Once you have attended to yourself and others at the car accident site, the first thing you should do is call emergency services. Afterwards, you should probably reach out to your insurance company.
Remember that you must stay calm and think clearly when you speak with your insurance agent. Here are a few tips to remember when talking to your insurance provider to keep the case in your favor:
1. Avoid admitting fault at all costs
Being involved in a bad accident can be an overwhelming experience. It is easy to feel quite emotional. You might even feel tempted to apologize to the other driver or tell your insurance company that the accident happened because of your actions. Regardless of whether you were at fault, resist the urge to explain any of the details to other parties. Even apologizing to the other driver involved in the accident could insinuate that you are admitting fault.
You should rather wait for the police or judge to assign fault after studying the details of the case. There may be factors that you were not aware of that contributed to the accident. Anything from dangerous road conditions or negligence from the other driver could have led to the accident as well.
Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means that you can possibly recover damages, even if you are partially at fault for the crash. Admitting fault in any way could decrease your chances of successfully seeking fair compensation for your insurance claim.
2. Stick to the facts
You will have to discuss the events that unfolded and details regarding the accident with your insurance company’s claims adjusters. Do not make any guesses or speculations during your discussions with them. Make sure that you stick to all the facts that you know are 100% true. If you are unsure about the answers to any questions, simply tell them that you do not know, rather than making a guess.
Stick to the facts you do know. For instance, you can tell them the direction you were traveling and the speed (provided that you remember these details). Informing them of the facts instead of making guesses can help investigators make accurate recreations of what happened to assign fault to the responsible party.
Sticking to the hard facts of the accident will also prevent legal issues such as fraud or purposefully lying which can harm your case.
3. Do not issue a statement
Likely, the insurance claims adjuster for the other party’s insurance company will contact you soon after the accident. The claims adjuster is responsible for settling your claim and saving the insurance company as much money as possible.
There is a good chance that the insurance claims adjuster knows much less about the accident than you do. This is not surprising because they deal with several new claims on a monthly basis. The adjuster only has a few minutes to review your file, which gives you an advantage over the adjuster. You can refuse to issue an official statement.
You should refuse to issue a statement immediately after the accident because the claims adjuster can use anything you say against you later on. Suppose that you did not feel harmed following the accident and told the insurance adjuster that you were fine. A week later, if you discover you were in fact injured, the insurance adjuster could use your initial statement against you to argue that you said that you did not have an injury.
4. Wait patiently to settle your claim
It is possible that you might want to accept a settlement as quickly as possible, regardless of what your case might be worth. You can feel free to take the first settlement offered by the insurance company representatives. However, you should know that the offer is typically going to be worth far less than what you could receive by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
The insurance adjuster does not work for you. They work for the insurance company and will try to minimize the payout by as much as possible. It is also possible that the insurance company has given them a limit to how much they can offer as compensation, depending on their experience.
Do not be too eager to accept the first claim, even if it seems reasonable at first glance. Consulting with an attorney can help you determine whether the settlement is adequately valued or if you can claim far more than the adjuster has offered.
On the other hand, there is a chance that the insurance company is offering a fair settlement. Don’t be too quick to deny their offer immediately. Consulting an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer can help you understand if you should accept the settlement.
5. Call an attorney
You can call an attorney at any time during the insurance claims process. A qualified Florida accident attorney can take on the communications with insurance companies and claims adjusters for you and protect your interests.
Florida personal injury lawyers have plenty of experience in dealing with insurance companies and claims adjusters for their clients to help them seek fair compensation for their injuries. A lawyer can walk you through the entire process, give you advice on what you should and should not say, and maximize your chances of ultimately receiving fair compensation for your losses when your claim is meritorious.
Are You Looking For A Personal Injury Lawyer In Florida?
Dealing with insurance companies after a Florida car accident might seem like a straightforward affair since Florida is a no-fault state. However, the companies rely heavily on minimizing the payouts they offer to maximize their profits. Hiring a personal injury lawyer in Florida is crucial if you want to ensure that you have the best chance of seeking the full compensation that you deserve in your lawsuit. Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers specialize in helping their clients deal with their insurance companies to seek fair compensation in personal injury cases.
Based in Palm Beach, the lawyers from Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers have several years of experience helping their clients recover the damages for injuries they have suffered from their insurance companies.If you’re looking for a West Palm Beach injury lawyer, working with Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers can help you build a strong case and have the best chance of a possible outcome for your personal injury lawsuit in Florida (by appointment).
