If you have been involved in an auto accident, the most important thing you should do is contact your insurance company right away to start the claims process. Any delay in doing so may mean delays in you receiving payment from them. When you do reach out to them, the first step your insurance company will take will be to conduct an interview with you about the incident. This is important since it will have an impact on how your claim will be settled.
WHEN IS MY INTERVIEW?
Your insurance company will ideally try to conduct your interview as soon as they can, possibly even while you are on the phone with them filing your claim. The biggest reason for this is they want to get your testimony while the details of the accident are still fresh in your mind so they can gather as much information regarding the accident as possible.
If your interview is not conducted while you are on the phone filing your claim, it will almost certainly take place next business day, or maybe even sooner if an interviewer becomes available. However, if you are not able to give your interview due to a disability, or because you would like to have a legal professional present during the interview, you are allowed to let your interviewer know that you require these resources before giving testimony.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING MY INTERVIEW?
Your interview will most likely be done over the phone, however your insurance company may request that you come to an adjustor’s office for an in-person interview in certain cases. Before they begin, your insurance company will likely ask you for permission to record your interview. This is mandatory by law, and you are allowed to request that they not record it since you are not legally obligated to give a statement at all.
While you are interviewing, it is important to be as clear, detailed, and accurate as possible. This can help your insurance company with their accident investigation, which in turn could help your overall liability case tremendously. If you are ever unsure of what happened, or believe you may not remember something correctly, be sure to make that very clear during your statement as well.
FIGHTING FOR THE RELIEF YOU DESERVE
Even when injury victims give truthful, detailed statements in their interviews, they are often surprised by the insurance provider’s refusal to provide adequate coverage. When this occurs, it may be time to seek legal counsel. Hiring a lawyer not only sends a clear message to the insurance provider that is trying to protect their bottom line, but can also mean further negotiations and even litigation to recover the relief you deserve following your accident.
To retain the services of a legal professional after your auto accident, call the skilled Tulsa personal injury lawyers at Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC. Our team has earned many elite legal distinctions and honors for our personal injury work, including admission into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and an AV® Preeminent™ Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.
Call Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC at 918-492-7674 today to start exploring your legal options.