Why Shouldn’t I Speak to the Other Driver’s Insurer After a Car Accident?

If you suffered a car accident injury as a result of someone’s negligence, you’ll likely want to get compensation. In most cases, that will involve negotiating with that driver’s insurance company. Shortly after the accident, an insurance adjuster is likely to contact you and request a statement. At this time, you may still be shaken up by the crash and you probably won’t be thinking clearly. You may just want to get the conversation out of the way. However, it is never a good idea to talk to the other driver’s insurer without first speaking to an auto accident lawyer in Baltimore. If you’ve heard that before but never understood why, this post will answer your questions.

Why Lawyers Advise Against Talking to the Other Driver's Insurer

Insurance adjusters are trained to make claimants believe they’re on their side. However, they will try a range of tactics to get out of paying you what your claim is really worth. They may try to convince you to accept a quick settlement. However, it is almost impossible to know the true value of your claim immediately after the crash. If you accept an early settlement, you can’t ask for more money later. Another tactic is to get you to talk about the accident in the hopes that you will say something incriminating. Even a comment which seems insignificant to you could ruin your chances of getting compensation. Regardless of how friendly the adjuster seems, they aren’t acting in your best interest. They just want to limit the amount their employer has to pay out. That’s their job so you shouldn’t expect them to act fairly towards you. The best thing to do when the adjuster calls you is to say you have an attorney who will handle everything. When you’ve suffered the shock of a car accident and you’re nursing injuries, you won’t be thinking clearly. That’s why you shouldn’t consent to giving a recorded statement or signing any documents. If you do that in the hopes of speeding up the claims process, you’ll probably just make your lawyer’s job harder. It will be very difficult for them to dispute inaccuracies in the statement or introduce additional information. This could prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve. If you suffer injuries in a car accident, you need to call the police, get medical treatment and call an attorney. Your Maryland car accident lawyer will handle everything else and offer you sound legal advice.

The Best Way to Deal with the Other Driver's Insurer

When you hire an attorney, they will advise you on what you should and should not do. You need to follow their instructions closely if you want to protect your right to get compensation. For example, they may remind you not to volunteer information. You may think that the more you explain your situation, the better it will be for you. However, that could make things worse. Immediately after the accident, your injuries may seem minor or you may not be fully aware of everything that happened. In the following days, you may remember additional details or discover that your injuries are more serious than you thought. By that time, you would have already given one version of the events to the adjuster. Resist the urge to speculate about what caused the accident. If you’re not sure about exactly what happened, only state the facts. The insurance company and the police will do their own investigations.

Contributory Negligence and How It Can Affect Your Case

Under Maryland’s contributory negligence doctrine, victims can’t recover damages if they were in any way at fault for their injuries. Maryland is one of a few states which still continue to practice such a system. In most states, victims can still get compensation if they were partially responsible. However, their damages are reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault. Since this doesn’t apply in your state, you need to ensure you’re not blamed for the accident. You will need an attorney to minimize your share of fault and prove the other party was completely responsible. They will draw on all the available evidence to build a strong case.

Contact Pinder Plotkin LLC to Discuss Your Car Accident Case Today!

If you suffered injuries in a car accident, you need to contact a Maryland car accident law office as soon as possible. We will ensure you know exactly how to proceed and how to interact with anyone who calls you. It may seem like talking to an insurance adjuster is a quick and easy way to settle your claim. However, this is far from the truth. To ensure you get sound legal advice and representation, contact Pinder Plotkin LLC today.
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