After a car accident, you need to get in touch with your auto insurance provider within 24 hours. Car crashes are dangerous, and you do not want to assume your insurance company will pay for all expenses that arise.
During your phone call, be careful of what you say. Insurance companies look for any reason to deny claims or pay less. Here are some things you should and should not say during this conversation.
Do not say it was your fault
Even if you ran a stop sign or pulled a dangerous maneuver, you should not say you are the one to blame to your insurance agency. You simply need to stick to the facts. Say everything you know to be true, and let your insurance company sort everything out. If the representative asks something you are unsure about, then you should say “I do not know” rather than guess.
Do not say you are fine
It is natural for a representative to ask if you feel okay. You want to say you need to see a doctor to get a diagnosis before you answer. Your insurance agency can pay you less if you are unhurt. Some injuries can take weeks to manifest, so you do not want to jump to conclusions. You should not sign a medical release form until you know for a fact you are okay.
Do not say anything to the other insurance company
You could get a phone call from the other motorist’s provider wanting to get your side of the story. You do not have to speak to representatives unless you have an attorney present. You should say as much if you get such a phone call. You definitely want to be careful if the other driver is clearly at fault because the other provider may try to get you to assume some of the blame.
