Many people believe that their insurance agent and insurance company have their best interests in mind. For this reason, they immediately turn to them following a motor vehicle accident.
While you’ll need to bring your insurance company into the equation at some point, here’s something to remember: You are under no obligation to talk to them about your accident.
Here are some of the many things you should never do when it comes to making a car insurance claim:
- Don’t give a written or recorded statement until you understand your policy and your legal rights. You never want to say or agree to something that could harm you in the future.
- Don’t accept the first offer you receive. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, which means they want to pay you as little as possible to go away.
- Don’t sign a waiver or release unless you know exactly what you are doing.
- Never accept a “final payment” check, as this means that you are ready to give up your rights to receive other compensation.
- Don’t ignore any time limits that are in place. Again, this is why you should review your policy from front to back.
- Don’t give up your rights for any reason. You pay for car insurance every month, and your insurer has the legal obligation to live up to their end of the contract.
It’s easy to believe that you will avoid these common insurance claim mistakes, but many people soon find that they are traveling down the wrong path.
Since you have so much going on after a car accident, including treatment for any injuries, it’s easy to make mistakes that could impact you now and in the future. Don’t do anything until you understand both your policy and your legal rights.