So you’ve been driving around Bellingham or Whatcom County, taking in the scenery or just getting to work, and suddenly you’re in a car accident. It truly can happen that fast. What should you do to ensure you receive fair compensation for your losses? Part of the claims process will involve talking to the insurance company. The “good neighbor” you might think you’re calling is called an “insurance adjuster”, and is trained to look for ways to deny or reduce compensation for your claim. This is their job, and they will probably have years of experience and much training behind them on how to negotiate a claim. Are you prepared for this conversation? Here are some things to think about before you make that call.

  • They’ll ask you where the accident occurred, and what you were doing at the time of it. You’ll need to answer questions about what types of injuries and losses you suffered. Be sure to have that information, keep it short and sweet, and be clear, concise and consistent.
  • Don’t agree to letting the insurance company record your conversation.
  • Do not admit fault for the crash. Just provide facts, not opinions or theories.
  • Don’t accept their initial offer. Keep in mind an insurance company makes more money when they don’t have to pay out large settlements to injured victims. Therefore, it’s in their best interest to deny your claim or offer a smaller settlement than you could otherwise get.

Things can get awfully confusing awfully fast. If you have a complex claim, significant injuries or damage, or you just think that what you were offered is less than you deserve, give me a call. I have many years’ experience working with insurance companies to get them to pay. It won’t cost you anything to reach out to me, so give me a call at 360-303-0601 and make an appointment to come into our downtown Bellingham office today. I get results for my clients; please click here for their stories.

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