Dealing With the Car Insurance Company in Michigan

Most car insurance policies require you to inform them soon after a crash has occurred. This can be a tricky conversation, though. The insurance agent is looking for any excuse to reduce or reject your claim. They will use well-developed strategies to get the information they need to justify the smallest payout possible. Therefore, do not go into detail about the accident, fault, or your injuries. As much as possible, stick to short answers and the facts: names of those involved, date, time, location, etc. It is enough to say, at this time, that you are injured and being medically treated – and leave it at that. Do not have contact with the other driver’s insurance.

If you contact a lawyer soon after your crash, they can handle this conversation with the insurance company for you.

Insurance companies are incredibly good at writing releases and contracts that benefit them more – and you less – than you may think. As part of their crash investigation, the insurance company may ask you to release medical and other confidential information. Do not sign anything or verbally consent to release information without first consulting a lawyer. Given expanded access to your medical records and other private documents, the insurance company will look for things like pre-existing conditions to justify a small settlement. Always have an attorney look over a release before signing it.

When talking with an insurance agent, always assume you are being recorded. Michigan’s recording laws are gray in some areas. Courts disagree about whether a person in a private conversation (in this case, an insurance agent) may record what is being said without permission from the other participant(s) (you).

If asked, do not make an informal or formal statement about the crash without first consulting an attorney. Statements can be taken out of context and twisted around to justify lowball settlements. To protect your right to full compensation, you and your lawyer can develop a written statement that supports your claim and satisfies the insurance company.

This is rule No. 1. The moment you accept a settlement, your case is closed. It doesn’t matter how badly the insurance company shortchanged you or how much worse your crash injuries get – it is near impossible to go back for more.

To protect you from accepting less than your claim is worth, an experienced Michigan car accident lawyer can review your case and calculate its full value – including past, present, and future medical expenses, replacement services, pain and suffering, diminished earning potential, property damage, and lost wages, among other losses. They can build a case to support your demand for full compensation and hammer away at the insurance company until they make you a substantial settlement offer. If they don’t play fair, your lawyer can take the insurance company to court.

A lot of seriously injured accident victims don’t consult an attorney because they think they can’t afford it – but you can.

These lawyers offer free, no-obligation case consultations and typically work on contingency. This means there is no out-of-pocket expense for their services. Their fee is an agreed-upon percentage of the settlement or verdict. If they don’t get results, you pay nothing. This is further motivation for your attorney to demand maximum compensation for your injuries.

You have a lot to gain and nothing to lose by consulting a Michigan car accident lawyer. Many firms are available to hear from you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a car accident, contact a verified attorney from the Law.com directory today.