Just a little info tidbit I wanted to pass on...

[CoffeeCat]

I learned this lesson the hard way, and I just wanted to share.

If you get into a car accident--and are hurt by another driver--their insurance company will call you.
They will "interview" you and ask you general questions about the accident (speed you were traveling,
weather conditions, what happened, etc.).

If you have injuries, they will request medical records from you. They will tell you that they want to help,
and they'll send you a medical-release form--that will allow them to verify your injuries and get you
compensated quickly.

I cannot stress this enough: Do not sign that letter under any circumstances. DO NOT SIGN!

This is what happens. The letter allows the other insurance company access to ALL of your medical records
from the day you were born until the last time you visited the doctor. Instead of using these records to
verify injuries--they will scour these records, looking for any excuse to deny your medical claim. They'll
use doctor visits to suggest that your injuries are a result of some pre-existing condition--and not the accident.
They could use any health problem against you.

When the insurance company tells you that they will send you this medical-release form--politely and firmly
let them know that you won't sign a form--but you would be more than happy to send them all pertinent medical
records that are specifically related to the accident and any physical therapy that you've had after the
accident.

Maybe others knew this. I didn't. It's essential life information that seems unknown to many.

[lpbk2713]

1. You don't have to talk to the other driver's ins co at ALL.

If they call or write just tell them to get the info they say they need from your ins agent.

Don't even apologize or say you're sorry for the accident. That could imply you were at fault.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. This is great advice. Thanks for sharing it.

[Robyn66]

3. So true!

I was in a car accident about 6 years ago. Chevy Tahoe vs Toyota Camry (I wasn't in the Tahoe!) The woman passed on the wrong side and hit me on the drivers side as I was making a left turn (with blinkers on) on to my road. She couldn't have been more at fault. The day after the accident I was called by the insurance company with the questions you described and I felt weird about the answers and basically said that they should get the police report because I was taken by ambulance and was in shock.

Then the NEXT day the car rental company (the good thing was I was about to get my new car but hadn't yet so this was a rental I was in the accident with) told me that if she didn't have insurance they were coming after ME for the 14,000.00 worth of damage to the car.

It was at that point I called a lawyer and had him handle EVERYTHING. I spoke to no one about anything. I am not a litigious person but this was scary and I knew I was in over my head. I could have been killed and I was very close to being SCREWED!

So my advice is if you are in an accident it is never a bad idea to call a lawyer to protect you!

[TwilightGardener]

4. Wow--I always thought car rentals were insured as part of the cost of rental.

Guess not--good to know.

[Skittles]

5. I agree, get a lawyer

let the lawyer do the talking

[tandot]

6. Great info, thanks! K & R

[imdjh]

7. GEICO is a piece of shit company. That is all.

[raccoon]

8. Share your experience with us, my good imdjh. nt

[Hepburn]

9. HARD IN FACT RULE: INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND.

NO EXCEPTIONS.

The other bullshit they do if they represent the other driver in an accident, they string the injured party along with statements about settling the case UNTIL the statute has run and then they basically say, "Fuck off, eat shit and die." And..it is the injured party's own fault that he/she let the statute run.

Never, ever for any reason trust an insurance company ~~ yours or the one that belongs to someone else.

And a little advice: If you are injured in an accident ~~ see a lawyer, OK? It is the lawyer's job to protect you. Even if it is just for a free consult or a low cost one or a no cost one at a legal clinic ~~ have someone who knows the law give you some advice and let them evaluate your case. Often the injured party really has no clue what a case is worth ~~ one way or the other.

JMHO

[Robyn66]

10. Another piece of advice

If there is any question of whether or not you are hurt GO TO THE HOSPITAL FROM THE SCENE! This is not so you can sue and get the most money, this is to protect you because injuries tend to show up days later that you didn't know you had at the time. I had a lot of "soft tissue" damage, and even though I had my seatbelt on my head hit the glass of the drivers door. It doesn't mean you are milking it, just for your own safety, there can be hidden fractures and hematomas (and other injuries) that you don't feel immediately and can give you lasting problems.

[Hepburn]

13. Two words:

Natasha Richardson. It's not an issue of suing and getting more money, IMO, but if in doubt ~~ go!

:hi:

[Robyn66]

22. EXACTLY!

Thats what I meant too. Sorry if it didn't look that way. Its the injuries that are the issues not the money.

[raccoon]

11. Thanks for that info, Coffee. nt

[IdaBriggs]

12. I am going to say nice things about State Farm (in Michigan).

Back in December 2006, when I was supposed to be on bed rest with my twin pregnancy, but was kind of milking the "allowed to get up once per day" thing (you try months of bed rest, okay?) I made the mistake of trying to take my three dogs to the groomers. In a horrible twist of fate, they got away from me at the groomers, ran into the middle of the road, and TWO OF THEM were killed on the spot by the same car.

I still choke up typing that.

Anyway, the whole thing was my fault because (even tho their leashes were on them) they had gotten out of my control. Her car insurance came after my home-owners (which involved a nasty deductible).

Except they were both State Farm. And when they called to talk to me, I explained how the accident happened, and started crying all over again. (This was not to manipulate; I was genuinely grieving, and had nightmares long afterward. I had bottle fed my beloved Anya and Tessa from the time they were 9 days old....crap! nearly three years later, and still upset about this!)

Long story short, the deductible was waived, and nothing was held against us. I followed up months later because it kind of just "disappeared" and I wanted to make sure everything was okay (the twins came early two months later, and we were kind of busy with that for a while!), and was told "not to worry about it."

I like State Farm. I am a very loyal customer because of that act of compassion. Paying out a thousand or more dollars on top of the grief of losing my beloved dogs during an extremely stressful time of life (twin pregnancy with serious complications) was something I am very grateful I didn't have to deal with....It was a very humane thing for them to do. Frankly, it is what I expect from them, but the way they handled things -- well, it was completely wonderful, in an absolutely AWFUL situation.

[Lifelong Protester]

14. good to hear, and sorry about the loss of your beloved pets

off the general insurance topic, but I understand completely about still choking up~ we put our water spaniel down 4 years ago, and if I have to describe it to somebody, I still get choked up.

[CoffeeCat]

15. Oh sweetie...

...I just want to climb right through the computer and give you a big hug!! I'm so sorry about your two pooches. You loved
them and they knew it--and of course they loved you. I am just so sorry. I know it doesn't take away the pain of losing
those two dogs, but I am glad that one of your dogs survived and was not hurt.

I am glad that State Farm was good to you. That was an amazing story.

State Farm is my insurance company too. They have been extremely good to us too.

How exciting that you have twins! Hubby and I have two girls--15 months apart--and people think they're twins.

Thanks for sharing your story.

[zalinda]

23. I too, have had good luck with State Farm

A deer jumped onto my car. It hit the right front fender, which deployed the air bags. They asked me to take the car to the State Farm vehicle appraisal shop and told me that my car was considered totaled. Which basically means that it would take more money to fix it than it was worth. They offered me a check and told me that the car was going to a scrap yard. Or, if I wanted to fix the car, they would deduct $150 from the check and I could keep the car and get it repaired. The car was drivable, it just needed the air bags to be legal, but the air bags would have cost me about $900 each and both had be deployed. I ended up trading the car for an older truck, and the guy put in air bags in the car for his daughter and her new baby.

I should have shopped around to get estimates on getting the car repaired. But, when you have been in an accident, the last thing you are doing is thinking clearly. My advice, get anyone you can, who thinks clearly, to handle the situation, because you'll just want to put it behind you.

zalinda

[Lochloosa]

16. Look on the back of your phone book. See that HUGE Law Firm.

Call them first. You want a law firm that has the assets to wait out an insurance company.

You never know what damage was done in a car accident. My wife was hit broadside nine years ago. She walked away thinking everything was ok. She is still dealing with the soft tissue injuries.

[wellstone dem]

21. I disagree

The lawyer on the back of our phone book is someone who is incompetent, makes ridiculous arguments, to run up costs. That strategy might get you a "cost of litigation" settlement offer in insurance litigation, but for any other type of litigation it simply means bigger bills to you.

[sellitman]

17. More proof of the way they go overboard to help out the sick.

No wonder the GOP loves them so much!

[madmom]

18. This applies to other accidents as well. About 15 years ago (give or take), I fell

at Kmart, landing on one knee. Went for xray, nothing broken, left it go at them paying for that. Now oh these many years later, my knee is still bothering me. After setting for more than 15 minutes or so, it "locks up" and I have to loosen back up before I dare walk. I could have/should have seen a lawyer and gone after them, because this fall was the typical fall from errant produce lying on the floor.:shrug:

[greenbird]

19. I was just in an accident in July.

I've learned over the past few months that just saying the words "my lawyer" shifts the whole conversation to another level, and often a different department. Of course, I was prepared to make good on my threat, but the threat itself can be useful.

[zeemike]

20. Absolutely good advice.

Insurance companies are there to not pay, you need an advocate, or at least the threat of one.