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Illinois Car Insurance Claims Dos and Don’ts (Part A)

After years of dealing with Illinois car insurance companies in the course of numerous and varied Illinois car accident claims, an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer will be familiar with the tricks they use to get you to settle for the lowest amount possible. Statistics show that car accident victims who work with the assistance of a Chicago car accident lawyer often obtain much higher settlements than those that choose to "go it alone," even when you factor in the attorney costs.

The following article explains some of the major Dos and Don'ts when dealing with insurance settlements after an Illinois car accident.

Interacting with Illinois Car Insurance Claims Adjusters

When you first file your car accident claim with the car insurance company, you'll be assigned an adjuster who represents the decisions of the company. It's their job to negotiate and justify the lowest possible settlement for your claim, if not getting it outright denied.

DON'T get too friendly with the adjuster. They're usually very personable and sympathetic to your injuries. They'll relate personal stories, talk about common interests, and try to create a "friendship" with you. In reality, these are all just tactics to get you comfortable with disclosing more information than you need to.

DO keep the chit-chat to a minimum. You only need to answer questions that are relevant to your Illinois car accident claims, nothing about your personal life should come into question.

DON'T give a written statement, even if the adjuster says it's required. It may be company policy, but there's no legal requirement that says you must give a statement. Written statements are often taken over the phone and later transcribed. It may not seem like you're saying anything damaging over the phone, but when written on paper, some casual details may prove harmful to your Illinois car accident claim.

DO consult with an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer. Before you give any statement, you have the right to consult with an attorney to review your claim and get advice on how to proceed.

There are more tricks the Illinois car insurance companies will employ in order to lowball your settlements or deny your claims. Continue reading to learn about handling important documents and what to do when a settlement is offered.

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