So you were involved in a car accident. You followed every rule of the road and obeyed the posted speed limit. Then, out of nowhere, you were broadsided or rear-ended by another driver.
There should be no question as to who was at fault, but it's still important to be careful when dealing with insurance companies. Even when the evidence against the at-fault driver is indisputable, his or her insurance company may still try to find ways to downplay or deny your claim.
If you're not careful, you could find yourself paying for car damage and medical expenses out of your own pocket. Moreover, you may not be compensated for your time lost at work. Insurance companies don't care if you get compensated. They only care about saving themselves money. Here are the tricks they will use to accomplish that.
They will use your word against you
If you are contacted by the at-fault driver's insurance company, it's critical that you avoid speaking to them and consult with an experienced car accident attorney.
Insurance companies will reach out to you and ask you several seemingly-harmless questions over a recorded phone conversation. They want you to slip up and say the wrong thing. Believe it or not, your words can be construed as admitting fault, even if you're not aware of it.
They may convince you that the other driver wasn't at fault
Even if there is hard evidence that the other driver was behaving recklessly or in a negligent manner, his or her insurance company will likely try to shift the blame. They may argue that the crash was caused by weather conditions, a pothole in the road, or any other factor besides human error.
Insurance companies also have a way of trying to convince you that you were at fault. If you even do as much as insinuate that you made the slightest error in judgment, they will likely run with it.
They may offer you a small settlement to make your case go away
When an insurance company can't argue against any fault of the driver they represent, they may resort to a lowball settlement. A car accident claim can cost insurance companies thousands, and possibly millions, of dollars. In order to avoid having to pay you to the fullest extent, they may be willing to lose a small sum of money.
Once you accept a lowball settlement, it is case closed. That means you won't be compensated for the true value of your claim and won't able to pursue additional damages.
Why you should speak to an Ohio car accident attorney first
Consult with an experienced Ohio car accident attorney. That way, you'll have a strong legal advocate who can do the talking and negotiating on your behalf. Gervelis Law Firm knows how the insurance companies operate. Our attorneys have been dealing with them for decades and helping crash victims maximize their compensation.
We'll investigate your crash and gather all the facts. We can place an accurate value on your claim. We'll work with insurance companies to help you get the compensation you deserve.
We serve clients in Toledo, Youngstown, and Akron, Ohio. Contact us online to find out how we can help you.