How much information should you divulge to the insurance company after a car accident?
After a car accident, be careful about giving certain types of information or providing certain documents to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. These precautions can protect your best interests.
Should I release my medical records to the insurance company?
All medical records may be required by the insurance company in order to validate a claim for compensation. However, a driver should not release any medical records before consulting a Chicago car wreck lawyer. When divulging personal information, there are certain precautions that need to be put into place to ensure your privacy is maintained and that the records are not tampered with for personal gain. The releasing of medical records should be done only after consultation with your attorney. Generally, it is in your best interests to retain a personal injury attorney to handle all communication with the other party.
Personal information and medical records in the hands of the wrong claims representative or insurance adjuster can jeopardize a car accident claim. Personal information can be distorted or twisted to eliminate any opportunity to recover compensation.
Should I contact the insurance company of the at-fault driver?
It is best to leave all communications of legal matters, especially concerning the opposing party, to your respective legal counsel.
Should I give the insurer a recorded statement?
It is not advisable to provide any recorded statements to the insurance company before consulting an attorney. Recorded statements may be used against you. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask the right questions and to use pressure tactics to undermine a claimant’s case. An insurance adjuster’s goal is to negotiate and reduce losses to protect the interests and image of the insurance company.