704-377-3737
After a car wreck, an insurance adjuster may call before you have had much time to process what happened. The conversation may seem routine. The adjuster might ask how the collision occurred, how you are feeling, or whether you are willing to provide a recorded statement.
What you say during these early conversations can matter, particularly in North Carolina, where disputes over fault can significantly affect a personal injury claim.
Why Is the Insurance Adjuster Calling?
An adjuster’s job is to investigate the claim on behalf of the insurance company. That may involve gathering information about the collision, evaluating injuries and property damage, and determining how the insurer will respond to the claim.
Even seemingly simple questions can address important issues, including who caused the wreck and how seriously someone was injured.
Do You Have to Give a Recorded Statement?
An adjuster may ask to record your account of the collision. Before agreeing, it is important to understand who is requesting the statement and whether you are required to provide one.
Statements made shortly after a wreck can create problems later. You may not yet know all the facts, and some injuries become more apparent with time. An incomplete or inaccurate answer could later be used to challenge your claim.
Be Careful When Discussing Fault
North Carolina follows a contributory negligence rule. If an injured person is found to have contributed to the collision, that finding may prevent recovery.
For that reason, questions about speed, distractions, traffic signals, or what you did immediately before the crash should not be treated casually. Avoid guessing about details you do not remember or accepting responsibility simply because an adjuster suggests you may have done something wrong.
What About Questions Concerning Your Injuries?
You may also be asked to describe your injuries or provide access to medical information. Be cautious about characterizing your condition before you know its full extent.
Some injuries require additional testing, treatment, or specialist care. Saying you are “fine” shortly after a collision could give an incomplete picture of what you are experiencing.
Should You Accept an Early Settlement Offer?
An early offer may arrive before the long-term effects of an injury are known. Accepting a settlement generally means resolving the claim, so it is important to understand what losses the proposed amount is intended to cover before agreeing.
Medical expenses, lost income, future treatment, and other damages may all need to be considered.
Before You Continue the Conversation, Understand Your Rights
You don’t have to answer questions from another driver’s insurance company without understanding how your answers could affect your claim.
If an insurance adjuster contacts you after a car wreck in Charlotte or elsewhere in North Carolina, Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, P.A. can help you understand what to do next.
Call 704-377-3737 or contact us online today for a free consultation. We provide unique legal services tailored to each client’s needs and do not get paid unless you do.
Your Injury, Our Fight. How can we help you take a stand?
Because every case is different, the descriptions of awards and issues previously handled by our law firm do not guarantee a similar outcome in current or future cases.
