Car insurance companies investigate claims after an accident as a matter of practice. For cases involving serious injury or high claim amounts, insurance companies may investigate the claim in a variety of ways which can feel intimidating and cause anxiety about how the investigation works. It's important to understand how insurance companies investigate car accident claims to protect yourself and your rights to fair compensation for your accident.
Insurance companies are in business to maximize their profits and minimize claims. One of the ways in which they do this is by outright denying a claim or they can devalue a claim’s legitimate worth. You can protect yourself by working closely alongside your attorney, being honest and refraining from public social media posts and digital presence.
Assign an Insurance Investigator to Your Case
As a matter of course, most car insurance companies will assign an investigator or adjuster to your case. If fraud may be suspected (whether valid or not), many insurers have highly trained investigators on their team who specialize in detecting fraud and criminal activity. The insurance investigator will examine your claim by reviewing whatever information may be available and then contacting you for more information and evidence, such as police reports, witness contact information, electronic evidence and medical bills.
Interview You, Other Victims and Witnesses
Typically one of the first steps in gathering evidence for the insurance company is to conduct an interview with you, other victims and witnesses. These first interviews can be used against your claim down the road and it’s important to be clear-headed and prepared before the interview.
While you do have to give an interview to your car insurance company, you are not required to immediately do so. It’s always prudent to first recover, then consult an attorney to discuss your case and options before proceeding. They can advise you on how to talk to an insurance adjuster.
Monitor Your Social Media
During a settlement negotiation or trial if the case goes to court, anything posted on social media can be used as evidence. Insurance investigators will check your social media accounts to see if there is any evidence that could contradict the injuries you claimed to have suffered. For instance, if you claim you suffered a knee injury due to a car accident but then post about a five-mile run, the insurance adjuster could use that against you. The best course of action is to refrain from social media use, especially any public social media accounts, while you are going through the claims process.
Investigate Your Digital Presence and Public Records
Aside from social media, insurance investigators may look for articles about you, photos of you or personal and business websites to see if any information you provided them doesn’t match up or could be used against your claim. It is also legal and possible that insurance companies will look at public records, including financial, insurance claim, real estate and criminal records, in the course of the investigation of your claim.
It’s important to protect yourself and your rights while the insurance company investigates your car accident claim. Though unless you exaggerated your injuries or are not following your doctor’s orders, you should have nothing to hide. If you have any concerns, like a pre-existing condition, talk to your attorney about it so they are prepared for this to come up during the course of the negotiation.
Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, Can Help You With Your Claim
An insurance company investigating your car accident claim can feel intimidating. At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we have decades of experience dealing with car accident insurance investigations and the tactics frequently used to devalue your claim. When you hire a personal injury lawyer from our team, we pursue the maximum compensation for your damages and ensure you are fairly compensated for your claim.
Contact Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney, at Law, for a free consultation. With our proven track record of success and our commitment to client care, we can turn your setback into a comeback.