Getting A Little Help

If you were injured due to being involved in an auto accident, you'll need to work with the other driver's insurance company in order to get compensated for your injury. However, your lack of experience in this situation means that you are likely not very familiar with what is involved. Here are some questions you'll likely have about dealing with an insurance company to resolve your legal matter.

What Problems Can You Expect To Run Into? 

A common problem that people run into when dealing with an insurance company is accidentally signing documents that you don't fully understand. It is unfortunate, but insurance companies can be tricky when it comes to getting you to agree to things by saying you have to sign an agreement, or not properly explaining it to you.

You'll likely be asked by the other insurance company to sign a medical authorization release, which will allow them to go into your medical history and look for things that are not related to the accident. They may be trying to find proof of injuries that were aggravated by the accident, rather than directly caused by the accident. 

Insurance companies may also try to have you sign a liability release document, which essentially settles your case immediately. They may do this based on the promise of cutting you a check immediately to cover your current medical bills, but you do not realize that you are cutting yourself off to receiving more compensation. 

Work with a lawyer before you sign any document so that you can fully understand what rights you are giving away. 

What Do You Do When The Other Driver Doesn't Have Enough Insurance? 

If you are running into a situation where the other driver's insurance policies are not enough to cover your injuries, you'll need to work with your own insurance company to cover the rest. If you have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, you'll be able to use your own insurance company to pay for the remaining balance up to your own policy limits. Chances are that you will not receive the money you need through a settlement and wage garnishment anytime soon if you fully depend on the other driver in this situation. 

Can You Trust Your Own Insurance Company?

While the other driver's insurance company is going to be adverse and try to limit how much you receive, don't assume that your own insurance company is going to be on your side either. Even if you have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, your own insurance company is going to try and payout as little as possible to settle your claim. This means that having a lawyer work with you will be essential, even when dealing with your own insurance company, to maximize your compensation.

Talk to an auto accident attorney if you are having trouble working with an insurance company after an accident.