The insurance company called the next day. Should you answer?
The number of car crashes annually are declining, but the expenses after the crash are increasing.According to recently available accident data, the collective cost of all annual motor vehicle injuries in the United States totals over $559 billion.Insurance carriers are aware of these facts, which is one reason that adjusters often call people who submit claims immediately.
If you’re an accident victim who’s been hurt by the actions of another, you might appreciate their speediness.However, adjusters aren’t acting fast because they want you to get compensated.
They’re often attempting to use the clock to get an advantage.When an insurance adjuster calls you right away after an accident, it benefits the insurance carrier.You’re likely to be in an emotional state in the first few days after your crash.
You may want to feel less overwhelmed, especially if you suffered any kind of physical or emotional injury.Consequently, you might accept a settlement offer in the moment, even if it’s much less than you could receive based on the trauma you experienced. Another upside to contacting you soon after the accident relates to your emotional state of mind.
It’s common for people who are under stress to make comments that could be used against them.For example, you might process the accident out loud while speaking with an adjuster and say that you may have been partly at fault or that you’re feeling better since the accident.
Both those statements could be used against you later to prove that you deserve less in terms of restitution.Is this sneaky? Perhaps, but it’s also completely legal.The adjuster has the right to call you, and you have the right to say whatever you want.
But in the moment, you might not be thinking clearly, which gives the adjuster an advantage.Adjusters may use their earliest phone call to request documentation they know you probably don’t have yet.This is designed to make you feel overloaded.
Under stress, you might accept an...