In the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident, most insurance companies will use internal accident investigators to determine what happened — especially in serious accidents where fatalities or catastrophic head trauma and spinal cord injuries have occurred. Additionally, a claims adjuster will likely call an injured person, often under the guise of trying to find out more about an accident. In many cases, the adjuster will try to gain the confidence of the injured person only to begin asking questions about what happened or the person’s injuries. You may be asked if you were wearing your seat belt, how fast you were going, if the sun was in your eyes, what you remember about the accident, etc.
The purpose of these questions is to collect information that can be used later to shift more or the entire fault for the accident onto you, the injured driver. Since insurance companies must first ask if they can record a call, they may tell you the conversation is being recorded for any number of reasons — training, quality assurance purposes or to make a record for internal reasons. If you consent to having the phone conversation recorded, your answers can be used later in court if your case goes to trial. Again, in many cases, insurers are simply looking for anything that might justify shifting more fault onto you, the injured driver.
How to Protect Yourself after a Car Accident
You can be reasonably sure that after a car accident, the other driver’s insurer will begin the process of investigating what happened and trying to keep from paying out any more than they absolutely have to. If you hire a personal injury attorney to represent you, insurers must go through your lawyer and leave you alone. Not only does this help protect you from claims adjusters looking for anything they can use against you later, it also means you’ll have someone fighting for your rights and interests.
Depending on the nature of the car accident, your attorney may begin his or her own investigation into what happened, collecting eyewitness testimony and other evidence important to your case. As a result, your attorney can take steps to make it more difficult for insurers to place a majority of the blame onto you.
My Personal Injury Practice
I focus my personal injury practice on the needs of people who have sustained injuries in motor vehicle accidents. I represent people who have been hurt in car accidents, truck crashes and motorcycle wrecks, whether as drivers, passengers or pedestrians. I will be your advocate with insurance companies as well as defense lawyers, working to get you all the benefits to which you are entitled.
Contact My Office
There is no charge for an initial review of your case. To arrange an appointment, contact me by e-mail or call my office at 610-565-8412. Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. I will meet with you Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and after hours upon request.
