When an individual sustains injury or suffers loss in a car accident as a result of another person’s carelessness, reckless behavior or negligent driving conduct of any kind, he or she may have the right to file a lawsuit or claim to recover compensation for damages. Whereas they have no obligation to give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company, they do have an obligation to cooperate with their insurance company when filing a PIP claim for medical, household assistance and wage loss.
Once you initiate the claim process, your insurance company will assign a claims rep and he or she may want a statement. While this interview is not an interrogation, it is being done to gather all pertinent information and facts surrounding the accident.
The majority of auto insurance adjuster interviews will be done over the phone. We always recommend contacting an attorney first, so they can be a part of this conversation. The adjuster may ask you if you are willing to give your permission to have the interview recorded. If you do not want to have the interview recorded, you are under no legal obligation to do so. Simply inform the adjuster of your wishes. Here are some of the questions you can expect to be asked in this type of interview:
- Where exactly did the accident take place? Was it in an intersection? At a red light?
- Which direction were you heading at the time of the accident?
- What caused the accident? How did it occur?
- What did you see, hear and observe?
- How many vehicles were involved?
- Were you injured? Please describe your injuries.
- Were you transported to a local hospital for care? If yes, did you go by ambulance or on your own?
- Were there any witnesses to the accident? What are their names and how can they be reached?
- Were police called to the scene of the accident to take a report?
- Did your vehicle have to be towed after the accident or were you able to drive it to a repair shop?
After this interview, you will need to submit your claims to your assigned adjuster; those claims include medical bills not covered by health insurance, copies of paychecks to calculate wage loss and forms completed by your friends or family members who serve as a caregiver for you. Some car accident attorneys handle these claims for their clients, while others leave them on their own to handle them while they pursue the injury claim against the other driver. No-fault claims can be tedious and need excellent organization. I’m a firm believer that your attorney should represent you in all aspects of your accident claims, and not just where they see a potentially significant fee coming their way. If you want to maximize your claim and increase your chances of recovering a settlement proportionate to the injuries and loss you sustained, contact my firm at once. I, Jon Abrahams, am a Farmington Hills car accident attorney with a long track record for being able to recover substantial settlements for my clients. For over 30 years I have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for car accident victims and their families. For pain and suffering and the tedious no-fault claims! I look forward to providing you with the same level of dedication and commitment.
