Two Worst Mistakes You Can Make in Your Fresno Car Accident Case
If you have been injured in a car accident, you may not know where to turn for help. The insurance adjuster for the other driver tells you that he will handle everything and you just need to worry about getting better. This is a nice sentiment; however, the insurance adjuster does not have your best interest as his top priority. He may be a wonderful person who truly does want you to recover fully from the accident, but he works for the insurance company. He must put the insurance company’s interest ahead of yours.
Accepting The First Settlement Made
The insurance adjuster knows that you need money now, especially if you are out of work due to your injury. Even if you are working, the medical bills are pouring in each day. Some medical providers will not wait for you to settle your insurance company to pay their bill. These medical providers harass you for payment 30 days after rendering medical service.
The insurance company is very aware that accident victims may be in a financial bind. Therefore, insurance adjusters offer quick settlements to accident victims in hopes of taking advantage of the victim. Unfortunately, these offers tend to be much lower than the actual value of the case. Furthermore, settling a car accident claim before you finish treatment or before you know the full extent of your injuries is not wise. If you settle your case now only to realize six months from now you need additional surgery, you are responsible for those costs. You cannot go back to the insurance company to demand additional compensation.
Providing A Statement And Signing A Medical Release
“We need you to provide a statement to verify the facts to process your car accident claim.”
Insurance adjusters often use this statement to get you to provide a written or recorded statement after a car accident. You are not required to provide a written or recorded statement to the insurance company for the other driver for that company to process the accident claim. The insurance adjuster simply wants you to provide a statement in hopes of getting you to say something the insurance company could use to deny or devalue your claim. For example, if you say that you were in a hurry to pick up your children from daycare, the insurance company may argue you contributed to the accident because you were speeding.
“We need you to sign this medical release so we can get copies of your medical records to verify your injuries to pay your claim.”
This is another statement you may hear from an insurance adjuster. It is true that the insurance company may require copies of your medical records before paying the claim. However, these medical releases often give the company the right to look at your entire medical history. Why do companies want to do this? The company is looking for information on past illnesses or accidents that it can use to argue your current injuries are not related to the accident.
Have You Been Injured In A Fresno, CA Or Central California Valley Accident?
The Fresno car accident attorneys of Torem & Associates want to help. Call our office at (888) 500-5000 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. Hiring an attorney early in your case protects you from the tactics use by insurance companies to lower the amount of money it must pay on your claim. Protect your legal rights by consulting with our office now!
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