Posted on Friday, October 6th, 2017 at 6:05 am
When you are injured in a Sacramento car accident, you may receive a substantial amount of paperwork. Medical bills, accident report, repair estimates, and insurance documents. It can be easy to inadvertently sign some document without paying enough attention to what the document actually says, or you fail to read the fine print before signing the document.
However, when you are dealing with a car accident claim, signing a document provided by the other driver’s insurance company can have a significant impact on your case. The insurance adjuster for the other driver’s insurance provider does NOT represent you. The adjuster is not looking out for your best interest. In some cases, the adjuster may be trying to obtain information to deny your claim or lower the value of your claim. The adjuster’s job is to settle your claim for as little money as possible.
Some adjusters have been known to take advantage of accident victims who are not familiar with the claim process or personal injury laws. They do this to gather information that can be used against the victim when negotiating a settlement or defending a lawsuit. You must be careful not to fall for insurance company tactics after an accident. Falling prey to one of these tactics could result in you receiving less money than you deserve for your accident claim.
Do NOT Sign That Form
- Written Statements
One of the most common forms that an insurance adjuster uses after a car accident is a written statement. The adjuster may tell you that he cannot process your claim to get you your money without a written statement from you. The statement outlines your version of the events leading up to the accident. Do NOT sign this form without consulting with an attorney.
Written statements can be landmines in a personal injury case. Something as simple as admitting you cannot remember how fast you were traveling combined with saying you were rushed because you were running late for an important appointment can make you appear partly at fault for the crash. If the insurance company can prove you contributed to the cause of the crash, you do not receive full compensation for your claim. Call a Sacramento car accident lawyer before signing a written statement.
- Medical Releases
Medical releases are another common form an insurance adjuster may ask you to sign. Do NOT sign this form without consulting with an attorney. If you are not extremely careful, you might allow the company to access your entire medical history. The company only needs the records pertaining to the injuries sustained in the accident. However, it wants your entire medical history to search for pre-existing conditions or injuries.
Insurance companies like to use pre-existing injuries and conditions to argue that your current injury was not sustained in the accident. The company may try to argue your injuries are only as severe as they appear because you were previously injured. A pre-existing condition might not prevent you from receiving money for your claim; however, it is best to consult with a Sacramento accident lawyer before providing any medical records to the insurance company.
Call a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer for Help
Call The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or visit our website to learn how we can help you avoid potential mistakes that can lower the amount of money you receive for your claim. Your first visit is FREE.
Our law firm serves clients in Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, El Dorado Hills and other communities in the greater Sacramento area.
