Answering Questions from an Insurance Company After a Car Accident | Roden Law (2024)

FAQs

Answering Questions from an Insurance Company After a Car Accident | Roden Law? ›

Answer the adjuster's questions truthfully and accurately. Providing false or misleading information can jeopardize your claim and even lead to allegations of fraud. Stick to the facts of the accident and your injuries, and avoid speculating about details you're unsure of.

As a rule of thumb, stick to the facts. You should never lie when filing or discussing a claim with any insurer, as doing so may compromise your claim and lead to serious legal trouble down the line. However, you should also protect your interests by only providing the information you are required to by law.

Stick to the facts and only provide the information requested. If the adjuster attempts to discover information about your work or salary or wants to know where you work, avoid answering these questions by just saying that you cannot confirm that at that time.

Reporting Your Accident to Insurance

California uses a fault system to resolve car accident claims. This means that if another driver caused your accident, you must file a claim against their insurance policy. However, you must also report the accident to your own insurance company as well.

Insurance adjusters are trained to find flaws in your story and ask certain leading questions that may end up with your recorded statement being used against you later. For example, they may ask you how you were injured in the crash, how you are feeling now, and what the extent of your injuries are.

Do Not Admit Fault. You do not want to say anything to an insurance adjuster that could be taken as an admission of fault. To recover compensation, you'll need to show that someone else was responsible for your injuries.

You can ask that your insurance company reconsider its decision. Insurers have to tell you why they've denied your claim or ended your coverage. And they have to let you know how you can dispute their decisions.

If you suffered a total loss, settlement must include taxes, license and transfer fees. The settlement must reflect the value of a comparable vehicle of like kind and quality. If you retain the salvage, deductions from the settlement for salvage must be fair, measurable, and discernible.

Insurance is a contract, represented by a policy, in which a policyholder receives financial protection or reimbursem*nt against losses from an insurance company.

Does your insurance go up after a claim that is not your fault? ›

Under California law, an insurer cannot increase your premiums when you aren't at fault.

Your Insurer Should Know About Your Accident

Your insurance company should always know if you have been in an accident, even if someone else was to blame. If you learn the other driver is uninsured/underinsured or they flee the scene, you might have to rely on your coverage for some or all of your compensation.

Be proactive: Give your insurer proof of your losses and ask for the dollar amounts you are entitled to. Don't wait for them to tell you how much they owe you. Use specific instances of improper conduct by your adjuster or insurer as leverage to negotiate the settlement you need.

Remember this motto: Stick to the basic facts. Don't add opinions such as who's at fault, what triggered the crash, or what the damages might be. More importantly, don't lie or even embellish the facts, as this can compromise your insurance claim and become grounds for serious legal trouble.

Inconsistencies and delayed claims can trigger alarm bells, leading the insurance company to closely scrutinize the legitimacy of your case.

A statement that respond to/answers the question using words from the question. Provide EVIDENCE to support your claim. The evidence should relate to the answer and include facts/text evidence that will convince someone that your claim is correct.

Be brief. Answer the allegations in the complaint with one or two sentences. Again remember that the statements you make in your answer can be used as admissions against you. Your response to the allegations in the complaint may admit part of the statement in the specific paragraph and deny part.

I am writing to request a review of your denial of the claim for treatment or services provided by name of provider on date provided. The reason for denial was listed as (reason listed for denial), but I have reviewed my policy and believe treatment or service should be covered.