You’re driving along Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick and suddenly a car pulls out in front of you. There’s no time to even hit the brakes. After making sure everyone is all right and reporting the collision to the authorities, you wonder how you’ll get your car fixed and whose insurance is going to cover. Who should you call?
Generally, you should talk to your insurance company immediately after a car accident. For example, you should tell your insurance company that you were in a car crash, the name of the other driver, whether there were any witnesses or passengers, where and how the car crash occurred, how to get your car repaired, and if you are going to see receive any medical treatment. This information will help your insurance company determine what insurance benefits you are able to use (like a rental car or payment of medical bills).
Unlike your responsibility toward your own insurance company, you have not duty to speak with the at-fault driver’s insurance company immediately after the crash. Still, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will have a claims adjuster call you shortly after the car crash. The adjuster will seem helpful and polite. But, generally, most of what the adjuster does or asks is meant to get you to settle your claim as quickly as possible and sometimes even you know the extent of your injuries.
Talking to insurance companies can be even more difficult when you and the at-fault driver have the same insurance company. When your insurance company calls you, it’s not evident whether you are speaking with the adjuster that is there to help you find out when insurance benefits you are entitled to receive, or the adjuster that is just trying to close your case as quickly as possible. You need to ask the right questions because the adjuster may not plainly tell you.
Knowing when and why you should talk to an insurance company can be a hard question to answer. If you have been in a car crash in Washington or Oregon, give Anderson Law a call at 509-734-1345 for a free consultation and we’ll see how we can help you.
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