How to Deal With Insurance Companies After a Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, you are probably familiar with the mental and emotional strain of dealing with insurance companies. Sometimes, it is a simple matter—but as our legal team at the Law Offices of Jason L. McCoy, LLC, has found, the insurance process is usually anything but. In these cases, knowing the steps to claim fair compensation from insurance companies will help protect you, your interests, and your rights.
Communicating With Insurance Adjusters
Insurance adjusters are incentivized to lowball your claim, so you need to exercise caution and know how to talk strategically with them.
But this does not mean you need to lie. It is always best to answer their questions honestly but selectively: provide accurate information about your accident, but avoid giving unnecessary details. Stick to the facts and avoid speculation.
If the insurance agent asks for a recorded statement, decline their request politely. The company could manipulate these statements to reduce your compensation.
Finally, a detailed record of all communication with the insurance companies must be kept. This includes dates, times, and content—all this information can come in handy in the case of a dispute.
Negotiating Fair Settlement Offers
Unfortunately, the insurance company’s first offer rarely reflects a fair value for your compensation claim—so you will likely need to negotiate.
Knowing the worth of your claim by researching similar incidents and compensation amounts can help you better understand what your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are worth. An experienced car accident lawyer can help with this evaluation.
If the insurance company or agent pressures you to settle quickly, that is a good sign that they are lowballing you. Take your time, review the offer, and consider retaining a personal injury lawyer for legal advice.
If and when you have determined that the insurance company’s offer is too low, provide the company with evidence (such as medical records, repair estimates, and witness statements) to support a higher settlement amount and propose a counterclaim.
Legal Options if Insurance Claim Is Denied
Unfortunately, even after you do all this work, the insurance company may deny your initial claim or the following counterclaim.
Connecticut law requires insurance companies to explain their reasoning when they deny a claim—before you do anything else, review the denial letter to understand those reasons.
If it looks like the company missed or misunderstood an element of your claim, you can provide additional information or clarification and appeal the denial. You may need to submit a formal letter with the supporting documentation.
If you want to appeal, we strongly recommend consulting with an experienced car accident lawyer, who can help you understand your rights and explore further legal options, such as filing a lawsuit.
Should I Accept the First Settlement Offer From the Insurance Company?
You should generally refuse the first settlement offer from an insurance company. These companies and agents are strongly incentivized to start with a low offer, hoping you will accept it and save them money. However, these offers may not cover all your expenses—especially if you have future costs that are not immediately clear, such as medical bills and lost wages.
Make sure that you account for all possible damages before accepting any offer.
How Long Does It Take for an Insurance Company to Settle a Car Accident Claim?
Unfortunately, different insurance companies take different amounts of time to evaluate different claims and finally settle on an offer—and these amounts of time can vary widely.
Generally speaking, a claim will take longer if it is more complex, if the crash resulted in severe injuries or disputed liability, if the investigation and damage assessment took a long time, if there were multiple rounds of offers and counteroffers, or if the case went to court.
Pursue Fair Compensation with the Hartford County Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Jason L. McCoy, LLC
The stresses of negotiating with insurance companies, waiting for additional claims, and disputing the companies’ findings can feel overwhelming, and rightfully so—but you do not need to go it alone. The experienced and compassionate Hartford County car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Jason L. McCoy, LLC can guide you through the process and fight for the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation by filling out our online contact form or calling us at 860-872-7741. Our offices are in Vernon, New Haven, and Waterbury, Connecticut, and we serve clients in Tolland County, New Haven County, and Hartford County.