Car accidents and insurance claims: Don’t make one of these mistakes

After a car accident in which you suffer a serious injury, your top priority is stabilizing your health and putting yourself on the road to making a full recovery.

While you do this, you’ll soon find yourself seeking ways to obtain compensation for your injuries, medical bills, property damage and lost wages among other damages.

This starts with filing an insurance claim. While it sounds easy enough to call your agent, provide some information and let them point the process, it can be much more difficult than that.

Here are four mistakes to avoid when filing a car insurance claim after an accident:

• Trusting your agent: It’s hard for many people to believe, but you can’t trust your insurance agent to do what’s best for you. They’ll always be looking out for themselves and their company. So, you need to look out for your best interests.
• Saying too much: On the first call, you may feel like you’re being interrogated. Should your agent ratchet up the pressure, such as by asking you questions that make you uncomfortable, tell them that you would rather not speak about the finer details of your accident right now.
• Accepting an early offer: Your insurance company may make you a quick offer, hoping that you accept and close your claim. If you do this, you could miss out on a lot of money that’s owed to you. Most first offers are lower than expected, as your insurer wants you to jump at the chance to put this chapter of your life in the past.
• Talking to the other party’s insurance company: You may hear from the other person’s insurance company early in the process. Just the same as your own agent, make it clear that you aren’t going to share much information until you learn more about your legal rights.

A motor vehicle accident has the potential to complicate your personal and financial lives. However, when you know what to expect when filing an insurance claim and how to protect yourself, you’ll find yourself on the path to obtaining compensation from the negligent party for all your damages.