When you are in an auto accident, you know that one of the first things you will have to do is report the accident to insurance. Then when you file an accident claim, you can expect to be interviewed by insurance adjusters. But if you are filing to collect compensation from another driver’s insurance, the adjusters from that company will be trying to undermine your case.
When an investigator or adjuster from another party’s insurance wants to record a statement from you, proceed with caution. This interviewer wants to know your version of the story, true, but this is mainly to misconstrue whatever you say to put you in a bad light.
In North Carolina, there are no laws that compel you to give a statement to the other party’s insurer, regardless of what the insurer says. In fact, this is one of the few states that has contributory negligence, which means that another insurer does not need much to deny your entire claim. All an insurer has to do is establish that you were partially to blame for your accident. All it could take is an innocent, polite apology, and this could be warped to mean that you admit fault in the accident.
So is it ever a good idea to provide another insurer with a recorded statement? While it may not automatically harm your personal injury claim to do so, it will certainly be of no help. The only thing the insurer is doing is looking for fuel to drastically reduce your settlement or to deny your claim. Any insurer who says otherwise is probably lying to you.
If you give your statement, the sad truth is that an adjuster will likely thank you, but regrettably inform you that your personal injury claim cannot be settled.
In order to protect yourself from insurance bad faith after a car accident, in order to protect your rights, in order to get your questions about insurance answered, contact the Whitley Law Firm today. Learn what an experienced personal injury lawyer in Greenville can do to help you and your family’s recovery.
