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Should You Sign Anything After an Accident?

In the short period after an accident, you will be contacted by an insurance adjuster. One of the easiest mistakes to make is to assume that the insurance adjuster is there to help you. The insurance adjuster is actually there to gather information for the insurance company that can reduce the amount of compensation they are required to give you. How do they do this? One of the first ways is to get you to sign a release. So, what does signing a release mean exactly?

An adjuster will give you a release that he or she asks you to sign so that they can look at your medical records from the accident. The secret is that, when you sign this form, you are actually granting the adjuster permission to look through all of your past records. This could include past medical records, employment, driving records, and more. What is the danger in that? The insurance company will later use this information against you when you are determining a fair amount of compensation for your losses. After all, the adjuster works for the insurance company, not you.

Imagine that you had been injured in a car accident. If the adjuster has access to all of your records, they could bring up a previous injury that may not have anything to do with your current injury. Unfortunately, that bit of history could affect your case and prevent you from receiving the compensation you need to cover your medical bills and lost wages.

Don't sign anything before speaking with an experienced person injury lawyer in your area. An attorney knows which information you do not have to volunteer and how to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company. As you can see, the insurance company and their adjusters have many advantages. They understand what questions to ask and what facts to look for after an accident in order to have a successful case. An experienced accident attorney can give you the same advantage that the insurance companies do. There are mistakes that you can make after an accident that will ruin your claim. Don't let it happen to you.

If you don't hire an attorney, keep in mind that honesty is the best policy. Not telling the truth about past injuries and accidents will not help you get a settlement from the insurance company. You may still want to consider finding information to help you understand what happens in a personal injury claim.

About the Author

Jim Brown is a personal injury attorney based in St. Louis, Missouri. He has written several publications, including a guide ror accidents in Missouri and Illinois. You can request a free copy of, "I Survived! The Crash Victim's Guide to Dealing with the Aftermath," to help you get through the post-accident period by going to his website at http://www.CastleLaw.net and clicking "Contact Us."

"Texas Tides" by Tosh Brown - order signed copies at toshbrown.com