While some people view auto insurance as just a legal requirement, it is a critical aspect of protecting your financial health. When you are choosing an auto insurance policy, it is essential that you know the types of coverage available, what your plan covers, and what might happen to your premium if you are involved in an accident. If you’ve already been in an accident, the things you say to an insurance company can impact whether your claim is successful. Understanding what to say and what not to say is vital.
What Coverage Should I Have?
There are several forms of auto insurance, many of which are voluntary. The minimum required insurance in Arizona includes:
A minimum of $15,000 per person or $30,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage
A minimum of $10,000 in property damage coverage
However, if you’re involved in an accident and the damages are higher, you may find yourself in financial trouble, paying for additional costs out of pocket. We recommend maintaining higher levels of protection in your auto insurance and ensuring you have additional voluntary coverage such as:
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage: If you’re the victim in an accident with someone who flees the scene, is underinsured, or doesn’t have insurance at all, you can find yourself without any recourse unless you have UIM coverage.
Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive coverage covers things like car theft, vandalism, and other acts out of your control.
We recommend locating your auto insurance policy, looking it over, and possibly increasing your coverage to ensure you and your loved ones are fully insured.
How to Speak to Insurance Agencies After an Accident
After an accident, you are required to contact your insurance agent to report the accident, and the other driver’s insurance agency will contact you. How and what you communicate in those conversations is very important, as a single misstatement can render your claim invalid or dramatically reduce the compensation you can recover. We recommend you limit your communication with insurance agencies in the following ways:
Deal only in facts: When you speak to an insurance adjuster for the at-fault party, you must understand that their job is to settle your case for as little as possible. They aren’t there to help you, no matter what they say or how sincere they sound. If you have to speak to them at all, deal only in facts, but don’t provide any opinions or evaluations, or admit anything.
Never admit fault: If anyone states that you were at fault and tries to get you to agree, say nothing. Without understanding all aspects of the accident (including whether the other driver was under the influence, distracted, or violating another law), it is impossible to know whether it was your fault.
Realize your call is being recorded: When you’re on the phone with an adjuster, anything you say is recorded or noted down and can be used to reduce the value of your claim.
Have your lawyer handle all communication: The safest way to handle an insurance claim is to have all communication go through your auto accident attorney. At Breyer Law Offices, P.C., our team of veteran auto accident attorneys know the law inside-out, and when we take on a case, we pursue the maximum possible in damages. Contact us today for a free case evaluation!