After a car accident, knowing what to do can be challenging. It is also important to know what not to do. Should you talk to the other driver’s insurance company after an accident in Nashville? You may need to inform others about the injury, and you certainly need to get their insurance information. However, there are a few specific factors to think about before you contact any insurance company.
In the ideal situation, focus on your health and then contact a Nashville car accident lawyer to help you. With the help of an attorney, you will alleviate the risk of making a mistake throughout this process.
Contacting Insurance Companies After an Accident
Whenever possible, focus on your own insurance company as a starting point. Call your insurance company to alert them of the accident. You do not need (and should not) try to file a claim at this point.
You will be able to contact the other driver’s insurance after an accident if you need to file a claim against that insurance carrier. However, like with your own insurance company, it is best not to do more than alert them to the incident right away. You cannot know immediately after an accident what your injuries and all of your losses are.
How a Car Accident Attorney Can Help Communicate With the Other Driver’s Insurance
After an accident, your priority should be on recovering physically from the incident. Then, as you do, speak to a car accident lawyer who can guide and support you throughout this process. Your Nashville motorcycle accident attorney will:
- Provide you with support in collecting all evidence of what took place. This enables you to know who is at fault.
- Determine what all of your losses are after the accident, including medical and emotional damages, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Calculating your losses is critical.
- Your attorney will then contact the responsible insurance companies to file the claim. In that process, they ensure that only the necessary information is provided to the insurance company and that no mistakes are made during the process.
- Your lawyer will then negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. Most of the time, this can take some questions and back-and-forth conversations.
Letting your accident lawyer in Nashville handle the legal process and the insurance company minimizes the risk of delays and protects your right to fair compensation.
What Not to Do After a Car Accident
There are several mistakes to avoid after a car accident occurs that could play a significant role in the outcome of your case.
- Do not file a claim before you know if you will recover and the extent of your injuries.
- Avoid speaking to the insurance company beyond informing them of the incident occurring.
- Do not tell the insurance company (yours or theirs) that you are “okay” or recovering well. Do not provide updates on your medical treatment.
By taking these steps, you reduce some of the risk of making a statement to the insurance company that could jeopardize your right to a claim. A Nashville car accident lawyer becomes the intermediary you need in these challenging situations to ensure you provide just enough information as required under the law, but not so much that you jeopardize your ability to recover damages after an accident you are fairly owed.