Insurance Interaction Mistakes to Avoid After a Maryland Truck Accident

If you were in a truck accident that was not your fault, you may want to file a claim to recover damages. It is only fair that the negligent party is held responsible for your injuries. To ensure that you are able to receive compensation that is fair and reasonable, you need to know the insurance interaction mistakes to avoid after a Maryland truck accident. To learn more, reach out to a seasoned truck collision lawyer.

Admitting Fault at the Scene of the Accident

Admitting fault at the scene of a truck accident is a mistake because it can hurt a person’s potential case. In the shock and confusion that occurs after an accident, a person may not know who is at fault. If they admit to making a mistake, it can hurt their case because Maryland follows contributory negligence law. That means that if they are found to be just one percent at fault, they may not able to recover damages from the accident.

An individual in a truck accident should not make any statements right after the wreck and should let the law enforcement officer determine who is at fault.

Apologizing to the Police

It is important to avoid apologizing to the police for the wreck because it could be construed as an admission of guilt. Then the officer may determine the person who apologized was at fault. People involved in an accident would never apologize and instead, leave it up to the officer at the scene to determine fault.

Giving Recorded Statements Before Consulting With an Attorney

One of the biggest insurance interaction mistakes to avoid after a Maryland truck accident is giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before speaking with a lawyer. Making this mistake could limit the amount of damages an individual could recover following a wreck. When someone gives a recorded statement to an insurance company, they are exposing themselves to diminished damages.

Usually, after an accident, the other driver’s insurance company will contact the injured person as soon as possible in an effort to get the individual to implicate themselves and allow the insurer to limit its liability.

People make the mistake of answering the other insurance company’s questions before talking to an attorney because they do not realize that it may imperil their own case. It is critical that a person remembers the liabilities they are exposing themselves to if they talk to an insurance company before consulting with an attorney.

Cashing a Check From the Insurance Company

After an accident, the other driver’s insurance company may offer the injured person a check and tell them they do not need representation. However, the individual should not accept the check and cash it without the advice of a lawyer. The insurance company’s offer may be intended to limit the person’s recovery and prevent them from receiving all the damages that they may be entitled to recover. An attorney may advise the injured individual to reject the cash or at least not cash it, because they may be able to reach a settlement for a higher sum of money.

It is imperative to remember that cashing a check before talking with a lawyer is one of the insurance interaction mistakes to avoid after a Maryland truck accident.

Failing to Contact a Lawyer as Soon as Possible

Someone who fails to contact an attorney right after a truck accident is risking the ability to recover a fair settlement. Having the support of a lawyer could put someone in a better position to receive the compensation they deserve. To learn more about the insurance interaction mistakes to avoid after a Maryland truck accident, reach out to a seasoned attorney today.