Wilmington Auto Accident Lawyers
At Ramunno & Ramunno, we believe that it is best to have an attorney, but if you do not: you should be careful, as to what or how you phase you questions or answers, to your insurance company.
Some words or phrases are red flags to insurers and using them could mean that your claim might be delayed or even denied.
1. " The car came out of no where"
Cars do not come out of no where, unless you are not paying attention. Never begin a statement regarding a claim with these words. If you aren't sure, don't guess. What you say could cause your claim to be delayed or denied. And if you're wrong -- say, you report driving at 30 miles per hour before an accident but the police later prove you were going 50 -- it could hurt your credibility or the speed limit is only 25 mph and you were speeding!
Stick to the facts. Should the insurance representative ask you a question you can't answer, simply say, "I don't know." If the person is taking a written or recorded statement, you should not give one.
2. "I Got Whiplash"
Fraud costs auto insurers up to $6.8 billion a year, reports the Insurance Research Council. And suing for damages caused by whiplash is a fraudster favorite ("Oh, my neck!"). Merely mentioning the term is likely to get your claim flagged for further investigation.
Whiplash is a specific diagnosis. If a doctor says that you have it, then you should report it as such. Otherwise, if you feel neck pain, just refer to it that way.
3. "Just Send Me a Check"
When filing a auto claim, don't emphasize that you're just looking for the cash.
"If you were to say, 'I don't care about the bumper, I just need the money,' that admission could slow things to a halt. Technically, you're supposed to use the payout to make the repairs for which you filed. While it's true that most insurance companies aren't going to check up on you, you'll certainly raise the fraud unit's suspicions, if you imply that you won't.
In conclusion, there are lots of other phrases that can cause red flags which is why you should avoid talking to the insurance adjusters, even, if it is your own insurance company. This is another reason, why we believe that it is best to have an attorney involved at an earlier stage rather than later.
Located in Wilmington and Middletown, Delaware, the law firm of Ramunno & Ramunno, P.A., confidently represents clients throughout Delaware, including the entirety of New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties, including Dover, Georgetown, Newark, Elsmere, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Christiana, Claymont, Smyrna, Odessa, Milford, Millsboro, Bethany Beach, Fenwich Island, Harrington, Seaford and all of the surrounding areas. We also represent clients in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.