If you been hurt in an accident, the first thing you should do after seeking immediate medical care is to contact a personal injury lawyer near Tracy . Almost everyone feels understandably confused and overwhelmed after suffering a personal injury. Unfortunately, even your own insurance company does not always have your best interests at heart, and is usually only looking out for their bottom line. Continue reading to learn more about how insurance companies will investigate your claim.
Recorded Statement
After a personal injury, insurance companies will begin the investigation by asking you a number of questions to collect information about the facts of the accident. Insurance companies will also try to secure a recorded statement where the injured person describes the accident and specifies her injuries. Never give a recorded statement. Instead, let your personal injury lawyer speak to the insurance company to make sure your rights are protected. Otherwise, anything you say may be used against you.
Personal Information
Remember, insurance companies want to collect any negative information they can to lower the value of your personal injury claim. After getting your statement, the next step in the investigation is to check all proprietary insurance claims databases to find out whether you have ever filed a personal injury or property damage claim. Insurance companies will also Google you and investigate your Facebook page to try to prove that your personal injury is not as significant as you say.
Medical Records
Insurance companies never trust injury lawyers to turn over all information. The final step in an investigation is to secure all your medical records, even if you have already given your diagnosis and documented all expenses. An insurance company will likely send you an authorization form that allows them to access the records themselves. Never sign the authorization unless your personal injury lawyer advises you to do so. You may inadvertently give the company access to your lifetime of medical records, which they can use against you.