Don’t Discuss Your Car Accident Injuries with the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

injury claim insurance company santa barbara

Soon after an automobile accident, while you’re still recovering from your injuries, you may get a phone call from a representative of the other driver’s insurance company. It is most likely a claims adjuster, who will ask you how you’re doing and perhaps ask other questions about the accident and its aftermath. It’s also possible that the adjuster will offer you a sum of money to settle your claim. If any of this happens, you are far better off saying nothing and contacting an attorney.

Any information you give the other side’s insurance company can only work to your disadvantage. Here are the reasons why it can be a costly mistake:

They may use your statements against you — The primary objective of an insurance adjuster is to minimize the amount of money their company has to pay for your claim. They are skilled at finding ways to downplay the severity of your injuries and possibly to deny your claim. By discussing your case with them without proper legal guidance, you expose yourself to the risk of having your words manipulated or taken out of context to weaken your case.
Your statements can be misconstrued — Insurance adjusters may ask leading questions and using persuasive tactics to get you to make statements that are not in your best interests. They may attempt to elicit responses that favor their company’s interests. Even innocent or honest statements can be twisted to the advantage of the insurance company.
You may not fully understand your injuries — In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, the shock and adrenaline can mask the full extent of your injuries. Some injuries may not be fully apparent at first and might take time to develop or become more serious.
Early settlement offers are too low — These offers are designed to resolve the matter as swiftly and inexpensively as possible, often at a much lower amount than the actual cost of your injuries. You need to have a complete understanding of your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage costs and other damages before considering any settlement.
There may be legal implications — Discussing your injuries with the other driver’s insurance company without legal representation may compromise your right to pursue damages. For example, you might reveal information that you are not legally required to disclose or you might inadvertently admit to a level of responsibility.

If you’ve been in a crash with another vehicle, it is in your best interest to consult with a personal injury attorney who can provide legal advice and represent your interests throughout the negotiations. An attorney will negotiate a fair settlement in your behalf and, if required, bring your case to court for resolution.

The law firm of Pulverman & Pulverman, LLP in Santa Barbara provides effective representation for car accident victims throughout southern California. Contact us online or call 805.259.3581 for a free initial consultation.

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RECENT VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS
- $4,375,772 Arbitration award to a man severely injured as a pedestrian after being abandoned on the side of Highway 101 at 2 a.m. He was struck and injured 20 minutes later by a hit and run motorist and lost a leg and survived a lengthy coma. His arbitration award was against his girlfriend who was negligent for abandoning him on the side of the road. She disputed any liability and blamed him for being drunk. The award was reduced by 50 percent because of his intoxication.
- $3,204,934 Verdict for a man who sued an insurance company for its unreasonable refusal to settle his claim for $100,000 (policy limits). The jury determined that the insurance company acted in bad faith and the court entered a judgment for the injured plaintiff. $2,200,000 Action against international cruise line for injuries suffered on an on-shore excursion based on negligent supervision of the shore excursion provider.
- $2,000,015 Mediated settlement for a man who suffered a crushed foot in a head-on collision in the desert. $2,000,000 Jury verdict for a female motorist hit by a truck on US 101. She sustained fractures to her pelvis, femur, tibia and fibula requiring surgery. $2,000,000 Recovered for a motorcyclist who was hit by a truck and sustained orthopedic and traumatic brain injuries.
- $1,250,000 Mediated settlement for a man injured in a motorcycle accident causing a broken foot, clavicle and punctured lung. Dispute over the extent of the injuries complicated by a previously undiagnosed diabetic condition. This represented the policy limits. $1,187,704 verdict on behalf of a bicyclist who sustained shoulder, knee and rib injuries by a truck driver who violated the bicyclist’s right of way.
- $1,100,000 Settlement for a man who was rear-ended by an underinsured motorist with a $25,000 liability policy. An additional $1,075,000 was recovered under the underinsured motorist policy. $1,010,866 A pedestrian walking out of a store in San Luis Obispo is struck by a motorist entering a parking space hitting the gas instead of the brakes causing a broken leg.
- $1,000,000 Mediated settlement for a man with a fractured pelvis injured in a freeway collision with a driver carrying minimum limits of coverage ($15,000). An employer paid an additional $735,000 for a total policy limit of $750,000. An additional $250,000 was recovered in underinsured motorist benefits (policy limits). $1,055,000 Mediated settlement for a young woman who suffered a fractured knee in the parking lot of an oil change service facility. $1,100,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who sustained a fractured tibia, fibula and ribs when he was struck by a car exiting a driveway. $1,100,000 settlement for a woman who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury as a passenger in a single car collision. $1,051,250 Plaintiff/passenger suffered a fractured femur from a high speed rear end collision. Plaintiff/driver suffered lacerations from flying glass. Defendant contended he suffered a seizure and alleged the sudden unanticipated emergency defense and was diagnosed with epilepsy.
- $815,000 Settlement for a man who suffered a herniated disc with an underinsured drunk driver who paid $15,000. An additional $800,000 was recovered under an underinsured motorist policy. $500,000 Mediated settlement for policy limits for a woman who broke her hip in a rear-end accident. The defense contended the injury existed before the accident and initially offered $51,000.
- $410,645 Mediated settlement in a motorcycle crash causing a rotator cuff injury. Disputed over pre-existing medical conditions. $235,000 Mediated settlement for a woman who slipped and fell on water at an auto dealership near a water fountain. $74,277 Verdict for a woman injured in an intersection accident. Dispute over the force of impact. The defense offered $30,000 forcing a trial. The court also awarded $28,547 in costs.
- $600,000 Settlement for a woman who sustained a shoulder injury in an intersection collision with a driver who ran a red light.
- $1,000,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who injured his leg by a car pulling out of a parking lot. $1,000,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who injured his leg by a car exiting a shopping center parking lot. $1,000,025 recovered for a woman who injured her shoulders and arms in an intersection crash.