There are several mistakes that a person can make after they have been involved in a serious car accident. One of those mistakes is not hiring a lawyer experienced in car and truck accidents. One of the more common and significant mistakes that injured people make is talking to the negligent driver’s insurance company. No competent lawyer involved in personal injury cases would allow their client to talk to the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster on their own, without their lawyer present. You should never discuss the accident and your injuries with the other side’s insurance company unless the conversation is approved by your lawyer AND your lawyer is present at the discussion. There are many reasons why this is important.
Why Is It a Mistake to Talk to the Insurance Company?
In many cases, the other insurance company tries to talk to the injured party as soon as they can. The insurance adjuster usually is trying to get to the injured person before they hire a lawyer. They do this because good, experienced car accident lawyers usually will not allow this. The insurance adjuster will want the plaintiff to call them so they can have a conversation about the accident and the injuries. Of course, this conversation will be recorded and then transcribed. The reason the adjuster will record and transcribe the questions and answers is so that they can be used against the plaintiff later during any litigation that might happen. This is the main reason someone who was injured in a car accident should never talk to an adjuster from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Some people may think it is not a very big deal. However, it can work against them later. For example, suppose if you agree to talk to the adjuster and give a recorded statement, but you do not yet have a lawyer or you give the statement against your lawyer’s instructions. It is possible that you could misunderstand a question and say something that is not correct. There is a chance that you might make a mistake and say something wrong because of a faulty memory. If you make these mistakes and later at trial you say something different, you could be portrayed as a liar in front of the jury. At the very least, you could be made to look like you do not remember or that you are confused and the jury should not give credit to your version of the facts. All of this could be avoided if you merely said no to the recorded interview in the first place.
What if the Adjuster Insists on a Recorded Statement?
There are times when it might be advantageous to speak to the insurance adjuster. However, these instances are rare. The only time you should do so is when your car accident lawyer thinks it is a good idea. In some cases, the notion of fault is clear and the extent of the injuries are well established. In this type of case, your lawyer may agree to a recorded statement just so that the adjuster can be satisfied and the parties can move on to negotiating a settlement. But even in cases in which all the facts and injuries are well established, your lawyer will still prepare you for the recorded statement and review all the likely questions with you so that you can practice your answers and know what to expect.
Washington DC Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Duane O. King Help Clients Deal with the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
If you are seriously injured by a negligent driver, the best decision you can make is to hire an experienced car accident lawyer. You should not attempt to deal with the other insurance company on your own. The Washington DC car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Duane O. King have been successfully representing injured people for decades. Our legal team will investigate the cause of your accident, keep you informed, and fight to get the compensation for which you are entitled. Call us today at 202-331-1963 or contact us online for a free consultation. Located in Washington, DC, we work with car accident victims in Prince George’s County, including Laurel, Beltsville, Adelphi, College Park, Greenbelt, Mitchellville, Woodmore, Greater Upper Marlboro, Springdale, Largo, Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Suitland, and Seat Pleasant, Clinton, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, and Fort Washington.
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