You more than likely have a mandatory reporting requirement in your car insurance contract or insurance coverage. If you need them to step in and help pay for things through an insurance claim, they may very well have an exclusion if you don’t tell them soon enough.

In addition to disability, victims and family members often experience substantial pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, medical expenses, property damage, and other non-economic damages. Sadly, many car accident victims never receive the full amount of damages to which they are entitled. Very often, car accident victims, unaware of the full value of their claims, accept the first offer from their insurance company.

Insurance companies want to settle your case as soon as possible and for as little money as possible. After an accident, you need time to determine just how serious your injury is, what medical treatment or physical therapy you need, and how much your lost wages will be. Therefore, it is crucial to retain a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible to achieve maximum compensation. Never talk to the insurance company before obtaining legal representation.

Don’t accept a cash accident settlement offer from the other driver’s insurance company without talking to a car accident attorney first, and not before knowing the true nature and extent of any injuries. The insurance adjuster is trying to save as much money as possible for the insurance company and will probably give you a lowball settlement offer on the value of your claim.

Often they will try to get you to settle in the claims process before you have finished treatment. That would be a terrible mistake. You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering and lost quality of life. Also, an insurance adjuster may ask you for a recorded statement.  Say “no thanks” to the recorded statement and refer the adjuster to your car accident attorney if you have one or tell them you want to talk to an experienced car accident lawyer first if you don’t have one. This statement may be used against you if the case proceeds to litigation.