If you’ve been injured in a car accident in New Orleans that wasn’t your fault, you’ll probably get a visit from the other driver’s insurance company, wanting to ask you questions about the accident. Here are a few of the questions the insurance company representative is will likely ask:
- When did the accident occur?
- What is the year, make, and model of the vehicle you were driving at the time of the accident?
- Where did the accident occur?
- Were there any other passengers in the car?
- What type of damage was done to your car?
- How did the accident occur?
- How are you feeling?
- Were you hurt?
- Did you seek medical treatment after the accident?
- Were there any witnesses?
- Where were you coming from when you had your accident?
- Was there a police report?
- What was the weather like at the time of the accident?
Answering Insurance Company Questions: What You Say Can Be Used Against You
Be very careful how you answer these questions. In fact, our advice is: don’t answer any questions about your accident (and certainly don’t agree to any settlement) until after you’ve spoken to a New Orleans personal injury lawyers. You aren’t obligated to answer any of the insurance company representative’s questions. And what you say to the insurance company can — and will — be used against you when it comes time to file your claim.
Keep in mind that the insurance companies are in business to make money. The other driver’s insurance company makes money by charging customers insurance premiums. They don’t make money when they have to pay off an injured person. As a result, they want to pay as little as possible — preferably zero — when it comes to compensating someone for their damages.
Don’t Get Tricked Into Saying Something You Don’t Mean
The insurance companies have devised all kinds of ways to trick injured persons into making statements that could make it look like they aren’t as badly hurt as they claim to be.
It’s okay to provide some basic information — your name, contact information, what type of vehicle you were in, etc. But beware of answering questions that pertain to how you think the accident occurred and the extent of the injuries caused by the accident. These types of questions can trick you into providing answers that may be interpreted in ways you don’t mean.
Most people don’t want to be labeled a complainer and everyone wants to act tough. After an accident, it’s not the time to act tough; it’s the time to be honest about how you are feeling — scared, anxious, stiff, hurt, etc. Be honest about how you are feeling and when you are feeling it. Saying “I’m ok” or “I’m fine” can come back to haunt you if you are not actually “ok” and you are not actually “fine.”
Don’t Talk to an Insurance Company Until You’ve Talked to Us
The New Orleans car accident attorneys at JJC Law are dedicated to protecting the rights of people injured in accidents caused by the negligent actions of another person or business. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident that was the fault of another driver, talk to JJC Law before you speak with an insurance company. We are here to ensure you get the compensation you deserve for the damages caused by your injuries including current and anticipated medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Let us deal with the insurance company while you recover from your injuries. Call JJC Law at 504-513-8820 to schedule a free, no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your case.