Do I have to talk to their insurance company? That’s a common question I’m asked.
My introduction to personal injury law came as a client. I had just graduated high school. I was driving my girlfriend home. When a man t-boned me. He totaled my car. I was hurt.
While I was hurt, the “guy who hit me”‘s insurance company kept calling me. They wanted to interview me. To get my side of what happened. As if their was some other side. The guy didn’t look where he was going and plowed into the passenger’s side of my car. The cops cited the other guy for failing to yield the right of way.
I was in some serious pain. Yet their adjuster kept calling me.
The emergency room had given me some muscle relaxers. I was out of it. And in no place to give a statement to anyone.
That’s when my parent’s called an attorney. It all felt so overwhelming. There were rental cars, doctor’s appointments, missed work, and property settlement negotiations.
I’ll never forget that first meeting in the lawyer’s office.
He said “Ryan, their insurance company is not your friend. They are out for themselves. They’ll record your call. They’ll ask “how are you?” And if you respond politely and say “I’m doing alright” they’ll use it against you”. They’ll say you weren’t that hurt because you said you were alright.”
That was 20 years ago. That advice is still true to this day. Insurance companies are no friend to the injured. No matter how nice the representative may seem, he’s out for one thing – to make his insurance company money on your injury.
After you’re in a car wreck, you may find yourself asking the question that I was asking myself in the summer of 1997. “Do I have to talk to their insurance company?”
The answer is “no”. At least not before speaking with an attorney. An attorney who has your interests at heart.
Everything you say can and will be used against you.
Before you talk to their insurance company you should talk to a personal injury lawyer who has experience talking to insurance companies.
I’ve seen them twist words. I’ve been there. And I was fortunate to have great counsel to help me be made as whole as possible.
If someone has injured you, and you’d like to talk to someone, please let me know. It’s what I do. You can click on the button below or call me at (860) 471-8333. No one should deal with big insurance companies alone.
You can learn more about Connecticut car accident law by clicking here. You may also want to know about handling co-pays or your rental car rights.
