The most important person to speak to after you have been injured in a personal injury accident is your doctor. For many reasons, seeking and obtaining the appropriate medical treatment should be of paramount importance after you have been injured. However, if your injuries have been caused by another person, that person’s insurance company is going to seek to take your (usually recorded) statement as soon as possible. This initial communication can determine how much of your health or other expenses the company will cover. You should think twice before speaking to the adjuster immediately after your accident.
The goal of an insurance adjuster is to get you to admit complete or partial fault or downplay your injuries so that the company can save money. That is why the insurance company may contact you immediately after a vehicle accident or other injury. This is commonly when you are least prepared to talk to them. There are several reasons why you should not conduct a recorded interview with an insurance adjuster without consulting your personal injury attorney: First, if an insurance adjuster calls you the day of (or the day after) your accident, you may honestly answer that you do not feel injured. Unfortunately, it is common not to notice some of your injuries until a couple of days after the incident. Once the adjuster has your statement on record, the insurance company can use it against you when determining your claim. Furthermore, even when you know you have been hurt after an accident, you will not know the full extent of your injuries until after seeing a medical professional. You should not speculate about your injuries–your statement may contradict your official diagnosis, creating confusion. You may also find yourself mentally or emotionally vulnerable in the hours and days after an accident. You have suffered through a traumatic experience that may prevent you from thinking clearly. You do not want to be held accountable for statements you made when you were upset or exhausted.
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