Common Questions About Insurance After an Accident

Almost 99,000 motor vehicle accidents occurred in Arizona during a single recent year, according to the state Department of Transportation. For many of the people injured in these collisions, it’s their first time navigating the insurance claims process. It can be confusing and even scary, but the good news is there’s a simple way to make things easier on yourself – hire an Arizona car accident lawyer.

The Arizona auto accident attorneys at Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., have more than 50 years of personal injury experience. We know the Arizona insurance claim process inside and out, so we can answer any questions you have and help you seek fair compensation for your injuries.

Contact us today to learn more about our services during a consultation.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Arizona?

Taking the following steps can improve your chances of securing the compensation you deserve following an accident caused by another driver:

• Call 911. Immediately contacting emergency services will summon paramedics, who can provide the emergency treatment you need. Calling 911 will also summon the police, who will create a report about the accident. The police report often contains important information that could help your claim.
• Seek medical treatment. You might be transported to a hospital following the crash or see a doctor on your own after the fact. It is vital to get a medical examination that documents the nature and extent of your injuries and to follow your prescribed treatment regimen.
• Get the other driver’s name and insurance information. If the other driver is responsible for the crash, their insurance provider should ultimately be the one that compensates you for your injuries. Get the other driver’s name and insurance information so you can file a claim.
• Take pictures. To recover compensation for your injuries, you need to show how the other driver was negligent. Photos of the accident scene could reveal evidence of negligence.
• Check for eyewitnesses. Eyewitness accounts can also be powerful evidence in an insurance claim. If anyone saw the crash, get their name and contact information.
• Contact your insurer. You should notify your auto insurance company, even if you were not the one who caused the accident. Most insurance policies require a report in a timely fashion, often no more than 24 hours after the incident.
• Do not give a written or recorded statement to any insurance adjuster. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not giving it away. They will look for any reason they can find to give you less than you deserve. Don’t give them the chance to twist your words and take them out of context. When you hire a lawyer, they will handle all communication with insurance companies, including yours.
• Hire an attorney. Hiring an attorney makes the claims process much simpler and makes it more likely that you’ll recover full compensation for your losses.

Which Insurance Companies Should I Contact?

You should contact your own insurance company as soon as possible to let them know that you’ve been in an accident. Depending on the terms of your policy, you will likely be required to do this within a specific timeframe. However, don’t say anything more than that you’ve been in an accident and where and when it happened. Don’t provide a detailed account of what happened until you’ve spoken to a lawyer.

You should avoid speaking to the other driver’s insurance company if at all possible. They’ll be looking for any excuse they can find to deny or reduce the value of your claim, so let your lawyer handle all the communication with them.

The insurance company wants me to give a recorded or written statement. Should I?

You should not give any written or recorded statements to any insurance company. Instead, tell your lawyer what happened, and let them provide the account of the crash once they’ve had a chance to review your case.

The main reason to let your personal injury lawyer talk to the insurance companies is that they will seize on any detail in your statement that offers them a reason to deny or lower the value of your claim. By letting your lawyer talk to the insurance companies on your behalf, you can avoid common pitfalls that cost many accident victims considerable money.

What Should I Not Say to the Insurance Company After an Accident in Arizona?

When talking to a representative of an insurance company:

• Don’t say “I’m sorry,” as it implies that you are at fault for the accident.
• Don’t talk about your injuries because you may not know their full extent when you give your statement.
• Don’t answer a question you don’t know the answer to. Instead, just say you don’t know the answer. Guessing or making something up could come back to haunt you.
• Don’t accept a quick settlement offer. Insurance companies sometimes make a quick offer in hopes of getting a claim to go away for a small payout.

What Should I Do if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?

You may have a few options if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance. The first is to file a claim with your own insurer under your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. However, Arizona doesn’t require UM coverage, so you might be out of luck if you haven’t signed up for it as an optional extra.

Your policy might also include optional Medical Payments coverage, which can cover your medical expenses up to a limit without regard to fault.

Another option if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver is to file a claim against them personally instead of with an insurer. You might be able to recover some compensation by going after the driver’s assets directly, though many motorists without insurance also lack assets to pay a judgment.

Why Do I Need an Arizona Car Accident Lawyer to Deal with the Insurance Companies?

No one should have to deal with insurance companies while they’re in pain and attempting to recover from an injury — especially since insurance companies will be looking for any angle that allows them to avoid paying the entire value of a claim. Let an experienced lawyer take care of that hassle for you.

A lawyer has the knowledge and experience to advocate for your best interests in negotiations with insurance companies. They know how insurance companies think and the tricks adjusters use to try to deny or undervalue claims. Your lawyer can counteract those strategies. A lawyer can also help you calculate the full extent of your losses from an accident, which means you may be able to recover more compensation than you would have on your own.

Does the Insurance Company Really Have My Best Interests at Heart?

Neither “your” insurance company nor the other driver’s insurance company has your best interests at heart. Both companies want to resolve the case as quickly and cheaply as possible – ideally for nothing, if they can get away with it. Not even the police and the courts focus on your best interests. Only your auto accident attorney shares your goals and puts your interests first.

Do you want to learn more about how the insurance process works after a car accident in Arizona? Contact Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. today for an initial consultation.

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About the Author

Zachary Mushkatel

Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive…