What to do if You're Involved in a Car Crash

Attorneys That Fight For Your Rights Under The Law

Insurance companies are in business to make money. As a result, insurers use a number of tactics to reduce the amount of money they pay in accident claims. In fact, most insurance companies offer bonus incentive plans that reward claims adjusters and managers for reducing claim payouts in a given year. In order to reduce payouts in car accidents, claims adjusters may question the extent of an accident victim's injuries, attempt to destroy evidence, or encourage an injury victim to settle as quickly as possible. At The Nation Law Firm, our Orlando Car Accident Attorneys are prepared for the kind of tactics used by insurers to reduce settlement and claim amounts. Once you hire our attorneys to represent you, insurance agents are required by law to go through our office first in any requests for information or discussion of settlement offers.

Protect your rights and interests - contact car accident attorneys at The Nation Law Firm today and schedule a free consultation to discuss your injuries or wrongful death case.

How Can I Protect Myself after a Car Accident?

1. Don't Sign a Statement or Release Your Medical Records

Insurers may ask you to provide a statement in the hopes of using it against you later. If they can show that you acted negligently they may deny your claim or reduce the amount they pay you. In other cases, insurers may ask you to release your medical records, looking for anything they can argue is a pre-existing condition, reducing your claim accordingly.

2. Don't Accept an Insurance Payout for Your Car

Your car constitutes evidence. Consequently, an insurer may offer you a payout for your car, especially if it was totaled in your accident. If you accept the offer, the car effectively becomes the property of the insurer. As a result, they can demolish the car, destroying any evidence that could have been relevant for your trial.

3. Don't Accept an Injury Settlement Without Consulting an Attorney

Insurers realize it often takes weeks - if not months - for the full impact of head, neck and back injuries to be known. If a claims adjuster can convince a car accident victim to settle soon after an accident, the payout offered may not cover the full extent of lost wages, additional medical complications, or the cost of physical therapy. In most cases, a settlement offer is made contingent upon relinquishing your rights to seek additional damages later. In this respect, the prospect of an immediate payout may be used coax car accident victims into giving up their rights to sue an insurer later.

4. Avoid Talking to Insurers Without Involving Your Attorney

An insurance claims adjuster may call you on the pretext of gathering necessary information in relation to your accident. In some cases, the call may be recorded for "quality assurance and training purposes." Unfortunately, the insurer may be interested in getting you to say something they can later use against you at trial. If an insurance agent calls you, it's best to refer them to your attorney or inform them that you will not make any statements until you've had an opportunity to consult with your attorney.

Contact Car Accident Lawyers at The Nation Law Firm Today

Regardless of whether you've been injured or have lost a family member in a car accident, our personal injury attorneys have the knowledge and experience needed to help you. To schedule a free consultation and discuss your case, contact The Nation Law Firm today.