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If you’ve been in a car accident, you might worry about how to communicate with the other driver’s insurance company. The good news is that you do not need to handle your case all by yourself. A car accident lawyer can absolutely deal with the insurance companies for you after an accident. In fact, it’s typically for the best.
Why You May Need a Lawyer to Handle the Insurance Company
Anything you say to the other driver’s insurance company could potentially be used against you. Worse yet, they might try reaching out to you and feign concern, making you feel as if you can trust them. They may also try to intimidate you or make you feel like their first lowball offer on your injury claim is the best you deserve (which is not true).
Insurance companies also have entire teams of adjusters and attorneys at-the-ready to analyze your injury claim. This is very intimidating for most injury victims to find out—but not to worry. Having your own experienced lawyer on your side levels the playing field. They will know how to deal with anything the insurer throws your way.
A car accident lawyer can even help you deal with your own insurance company after an accident. We’ll cover more about that below.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Will Deal with the Insurance Companies
You have every right to deal with your injury claim and the insurance company on your own, but in many cases, it’s not a good idea—especially if you have significant injuries and/or vehicle damage. Insurance companies know you are vulnerable after an accident. They also know most injury victims aren’t well-versed in tort law, and they can use that against you.
Below are the main ways a car accident lawyer can deal with the insurance companies for you after your car accident.
Speaking to the Insurance Company on Your Behalf
You are not legally required to talk to the other driver’s insurance company after your accident. Your lawyer can begin communicating with the insurance adjuster on your behalf.
If the insurance company tries to contact you after the accident, you do not have to talk to them directly—and you shouldn’t give any recorded statements or admit any fault until you’ve spoken to your lawyer. You can simply give them your lawyer’s number and say all communications go through them.
Your lawyer will know how to develop good communication with the other insurance company’s adjuster, which is crucial for the negotiation stage.
Negotiating for a Fair Settlement
When you file your injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, they will analyze the details of your claim. They will either:
- Accept your claim and pay what you’re requesting for compensation
- Deny your claim
- Or send you a counteroffer settlement amount
Unfortunately, it’s rare for an insurance company to accept a claim right away, especially if you have a lot of damages. Insurers care most about their bottom line, so they will look for ways to reduce how much they pay. If they send you a small settlement offer or deny your claim completely, you will need help from a car accident lawyer.
Your lawyer will handle negotiating with the insurance company for a fair settlement. The goal is to get you a settlement that covers all your damages—past, current, and future—resulting from the car accident. This is not an easy task, and it takes the education and experience of a good lawyer to succeed.
Communicating with Your Own Insurance Company
In many cases, you will need to report the car accident to your own insurance company. Even if the other driver is completely at fault, there may be certain benefits available through your own insurance. Plus, most policies require you to report an accident within a certain period of time after the accident.
While your own insurer is going to be more on your side than the other driver’s insurer, you should still be wary. Don’t give them more information than you are required to. If you are unsure of how to approach this conversation, a car accident lawyer can help by giving you tips for talking to your insurance company after an accident.
Gathering Evidence of Fault and Liability
Compiling evidence for your case doesn’t directly involve dealing with the insurance company, but it helps set you up for better success when filing your claim and during negotiation.
Even if you hold zero fault in the accident, the burden is still on you to prove it and file a claim for compensation. A car accident lawyer will help you gather evidence that the other driver was at fault for your accident and that they are liable for your damages. They may do this by:
- Compiling any pictures you took at the accident scene
- Going back to the scene to see for themselves and taking their own photographs
- Getting copies of accident reports
- Speaking to witnesses (and sometimes the police officers who responded to the accident)
Proving Your Damages
Besides demonstrating the other driver’s fault, you will also need to prove that:
- You suffered damages
- And those damages directly resulted from the car accident caused by the other driver
Your lawyer will help you get thorough documentation of all expenses related to your injuries and any property damage you suffered. This includes requesting and compiling medical bills, records, and receipts. While this sounds easy enough, many doctors’ offices are understaffed and don’t make medical records requests the top priority. A lawyer can help speed along the process.
Let a Car Accident Lawyer Handle the Insurance Process for You
If you try to handle the injury claim yourself after a car accident, you will likely leave significant money on the table. It’s also very stressful trying to communicate with the other driver’s insurance company alone.
A car accident lawyer will deal with the details on your behalf so you can focus on getting better. They know how to handle insurance companies, and they won’t be afraid to fight for your rights to full compensation. This is why it’s best to contact a trusted car accident lawyer in your area as soon as possible after suffering injuries in an accident.
Talk to a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer for Free Today
At John Foy & Associates, we can handle every step of the process for you after your accident. We have been helping injury victims win the recovery they need for over 20 years—and we’re ready to help you, too. Call us today for a FREE consultation and case evaluation at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
