Dealing with the Insurance Company

Does health insurance cover Texas car accident injuries?

Your car accident may have been over in moments – but dealing with the insurance company takes considerably longer. When you’ve been hurt in a car crash, you want to focus on getting better, not on dealing with paperwork. That’s why you can depend on the car accident lawyers at Tracey Fox & Walters to deal with the insurance company on your behalf.

Remember that the insurance company isn’t on your side. Their goal is to protect their bottom line, not to help you. Our goal is fully to advocate for your rights. Contact us today to find out how we can help.

Understanding your insurance claim

The claims process can seem confusing after a car accident. Insurance companies know this. That’s why they try to keep the process shrouded in mystery. They want you to be confused and to be willing to accept their first car accident settlement claim offer.

It is important to remember that insurance companies often only settle accidents once. So if you agree to accept their offer, you will likely forfeit the right to obtain any additional financial compensation in the future, even if your accident-related expenses continue to add up.

That’s why many insurance companies make an offer right away after an accident. Such offers often look like good deals at first, especially if they cover your medical expenses for emergency medical care.

What if you need surgery five years from now? Or physical therapy for the rest of your life? If your settlement doesn’t include compensation for these expenses, that money will likely have to come out of your own pocket – and that’s not right. Always keep this in mind when dealing with insurance companies after your car accident.

Anything you say to an insurance company can be used against you

After a wreck, you need to notify your insurance company that you were in a crash as soon as possible. Otherwise, they may deny your claim. That said, we recommend being as brief as possible in your comments. Explain the facts of what happened, but don’t say anything that can be construed as admitting fault – and refer any further questions to your lawyer.

Beyond that initial notification, you’re not obligated to talk to an insurance company at all, whether your own or another driver’s. You have the right to retain an attorney to field their questions on your behalf so that you can focus on getting better.

If they ask for a statement, do it in writing – with our help

It’s common for an insurance company to ask for a statement after a car accident. This may seem reasonable, but it’s often one of their tactics to reduce or deny your claim. Remember, any recorded statement can be altered or taken out of context and used against you. If you give your statement on the phone, it’s possible for an insurance company employee to bully or manipulate you into saying something that isn’t in your best interests.

If an insurance company requires you to give a statement, the best course of action is to sit down with your attorney and prepare a written statement. That way, we can make sure your statement accurately represents your point of view on what happened and does not jeopardize your recovery.

Never accept an insurance company’s offer without talking to a lawyer first

Here’s the single most important thing you need to know about insurance claims: once you’ve taken the insurance company’s money, that’s it. In most cases, you can’t go back and ask for more, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you thought. Their initial offer is usually a lowball settlement that is intended to make you to go away, not to fully compensate you for your injuries.

If you receive a settlement offer from an insurance company, you should immediately review it with an attorney who has experience handling car accident claims. We’re often able to identify areas that the settlement offer does not cover and go back to the insurance company with a counter-offer that will pay for the full cost of your accident. Sometimes, they’re willing to negotiate a fair settlement. In other cases, we’ll take them to trial and argue for the compensation you deserve before a judge and jury.

We’ll deal with the insurance company on your behalf

Insurance companies work hard to investigate Texas car accidents and build their cases. Level the playing field. Get an experienced lawyer on your side. Contact us online or give us a call today to schedule a free consultation.