You can expect to be contacted by an insurance adjuster shortly after being injured in a car accident. The insurance adjuster will be friendly and act concerned about your health, but don’t be fooled. The adjuster’s goal is to minimize your financial recovery, so they can maximize profits for their employer. They don’t care about helping you pay for medical bills and other accident-related expenses. 
Don’t Provide a Recorded Statement Without Contacting an Attorney
If you didn’t cause the accident, you might think providing a recorded statement to the insurance company is no big deal. However, the insurance adjuster is a master at asking leading questions and misinterpreting your words to make it appear that you’re partially at fault for the crash. If you’re in pain, upset, or taking medication that affects your cognitive function, you may say something that will damage your case.
To protect yourself, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can handle all communication with the insurance adjuster on your behalf and advise you as to what information is needed to process your claim.
Think Twice Before Signing a Release Form
Release forms give the insurance adjuster the right to poke around in your medical records. Often, insurance adjusters ask for access to your entire medical history to look for preexisting conditions and other reasons to deny your claim.
Your attorney can review the release form to ensure it’s only asking for the information that’s actually necessary for your case. This protects your right to privacy, as well as your right to a fair financial recovery.
The First Settlement Offer Is Too Low
If you’re offered a settlement within a few days, it may be tempting to accept the check and put the matter behind you. This would be a huge mistake. The first offer an insurance adjuster makes is guaranteed to be less than what you’re entitled to under the law. They’re starting out with their “best case” scenario and will only offer additional funds if you’re willing to advocate for your own interests.
It’s also important to keep in mind that you might not even know what your damages actually are at this point in the process. If you haven’t reached maximum medical improvement, it’s impossible to tell the full extent of your medical expenses and lost wages.
Have You Been Injured In A Louisiana Car Accident?
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Alexandria office directly at 318.541.8188 to schedule your free consultation.