Learning More About Your Accident

If you have filed an auto accident claim because you were involved in an accident caused by another driver, you want to be sure that you know how to receive fair compensation from their insurance company. The best way to do this is to negotiate with the insurance company in the smartest way possible. Talking back and forth with the insurance company can be stressful, so here are five tips to consider to help you avoid making mistakes and ensure that the situation is more in your control:

1. Ask for More Than You Will Accept: First off, you have to determine how low of an offering you are willing to accept. Once you determine this, the first time you negotiate with the insurance company, you want to ask for much more. Chances are, they will come back with a lower offer, and most likely this will still be higher than the lowest amount you are willing to accept. 
2. Don't Give a Recorded Statement: When talking with the insurance company, they may ask you to provide a recorded statement about the accident. It's best to refuse this offer because you never know if something you say can be held against you later on that can affect your case. Even if the insurance agent says it is required by their company, it is not required by law, so you really don't need to. 
3. Don't Sign Medical Authorization: The insurance company may ask for you to sign a medical authorization, which you should not feel pressured into signing. They will tell you that it will help them determine how much compensation to provide. However, when you do this, the insurance company will attempt to find past injuries and other medical complications to be held against you so that they can lower the amount of compensation. 
4. Ask for Justification on an Offer: Once the insurance company has provided you with a settlement offer, if you feel that it is too low, you should ask them to justify this. This way, you can hear their arguments and then write a letter that describes why you refute their argument. This letter should describe facts about the case that explain why you deserve much more.
5. Ask an Auto Accident Lawyer for Help: Many times, trying to negotiate with an insurance company is too stressful for people to deal with, especially when they've never been involved in a situation like this. The best way to ensure that no mistakes are made when talking with the insurance company is to have an experienced auto accident lawyer by your side who can handle the negotiations for you. 

When you consider these five tips when negotiating your auto accident claim, you can be sure that you are much more likely to receive a fair compensation amount.