Stay calm. Even if you are upset after an accident, remember not to take out your anger on the insurance representative who called you. By remaining calm and being polite, you can have a civil conversation that might earn you some goodwill with the person you’re speaking to.
Remember to get their information. You will want to know precisely whom you’re speaking with and which company they represent. This information will be valuable, so get their name, position, phone number, and company name.
Limit any personal information you provide. When you report a collision to your insurer, then generally the report the following information: a collision occurred, you were in the accident, there was property damage, you were hurt, the other driver gave you his or her insurance information. As far as personal information, only provide your name, address, and phone number. Beyond that, the representative does not need to know any other details about your life and finances.
Do not discuss your injuries. The agent will likely ask you about the injuries you suffered, but it is not a good idea to talk about them on this call. If you leave out critical details or if you discover additional health issues later, not including them in your statements to the company may harm your claim later on.
Decline to give a recorded statement. The insurance agent may ask you to make an official statement on the record, or they may ask to record your phone call. Do not give any recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance company, and do not give a recorded statement to your insurance company without first speaking to a lawyer. Recording a statement could become a permanent record of errors or omissions in your story that could come back to haunt you later on. Instead, politely refuse to record a statement and let an attorney handle the matter for you.
* This does not come as legal advice and does not replace legal advice you should receive in appropriate occasions. This site is for informational purposes only.
