Avoid these words to an insurance agent after a car accident

Car accidents happen frequently around Missouri. The State Highway Patrol actually maintains a database listing all the traffic collisions that have occurred on any given day, so you can know which major streets had a recent crash. 

If you ever find yourself in this kind of situation, then it is paramount for you to get in touch with your auto insurance company promptly to begin the claims process. An auto accident is never something you want to delay, but when you contact an agent, make sure that you do not hurt your claim by saying something that you will later regret. 

“I may have whiplash.”

After a car accident, you should see a doctor posthaste. You need to know precisely the extent of your injuries, so you can ensure your settlement covers all future treatments. For the time being, you do not want to speculate about your injuries. You do not want the insurance company to claim that you tried to mislead them about the nature of your injuries. 

“I will not hire a lawyer.”

For the first call to an insurance agent, there is no need to talk about your legal representation. You certainly do not want to let the insurance agency know that you have no plans to hire anyone. The company may use this to its advantage to offer you a lower settlement than you deserve. Even if your injuries are not severe, you still want to consider hiring a lawyer just in case. 

“Do you want any contact information?”

It may seem nice to offer the agent the contact information for any friends or family members who were in the vehicle with you. However, the agent may also use this to his or her advantage by reaching out to those people. Those individuals may not know what to say, so they can use those words against you.