What to Do After a Car Accident

When you are involved in a car accident it is imperative that you take the proper steps to protect yourself and assure your safety. These steps do not just pertain to your overall health, they also affect insurance and your legal protection. The state of Georgia is considered a “fault insurance state” which means that you must work with the “at-fault driver’s insurance company” for the sake of your health and wallet. To recover any or all compensation for your personal injuries and property damage, the other driver’s insurance company will assign an adjuster to handle the accident claim.

But before you go any further, we strongly suggest that you review the below tips prior to signing your name or agreeing to any settlement. An adjuster can be sneaky as they work for the insurance company who is essentially trying to pay you as little as possible for your claim. Therefore, when you speak to an adjuster, it is crucial to follow these tips:

1. Don’t minimize your injuries. Often times when a person is involved in a car accident they tend to downplay their injuries. They pretend that they are okay and minimize the amount of pain that they are truly feeling after the accident. The injuries sustained in an accident can become worse 24-48 hours after the initial impact and we suggest that you not downplay your injuries to the adjuster in case your injuries become worse.
2. No! You cannot record this conversation. The adjuster assumes that they can press record and have your conversation stored indefinitely. Unfortunately, these types of recorded conversations can be used against you and limit the compensation that you are offered. When the adjuster asks to record the conversation, we suggest that you politely decline before saying another word.
3. Be Factual. While you may feel emotional and want to express your feelings regarding the accident, it is important to keep these to yourself. When discussing the incident, just stick to the facts – time, location and date of the accident.
4. Keep pre-existing injuries to yourself. If you discuss pre-existing injuries, it could hurt your chances of receiving fair compensation.
5. Don’t answer any questions that you don’t know the answer (this speaks for itself).
6. Tell the truth. Don’t exaggerate when speaking to an adjuster as they deal with individuals who embellish stories every day. Stick to the facts and tell the truth.

Lastly, if you feel uncomfortable answering questions or discussing the events of the accident, we are here to support you. At Kaine Law, we don’t want anyone to be taken advantage of by an insurance company; therefore, we strive to assist those individuals who may not know or fully understand the legal steps to receive fair compensation for injuries and damages after a car accident.

For more information, contact the attorneys at Kaine Law.