If you have been injured in a car crash in Iowa, you may assume that your insurance company is on your side and will do whatever is necessary to protect you. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
Your Auto Insurance Company May Not Give You a Fair Settlement
It’s not guaranteed that your insurance company will treat you fairly – especially after you are forced to make a claim against them after you’ve been injured in a car accident. So, why would that be necessary?
If the driver who caused the crash had no insurance, or not enough insurance to cover your harms and losses, then you will need to make a claim through the uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage from your own auto insurance policy.
Remember, every insurance company is a business, and businesses like to make (and keep) their money. Even if you are a good customer and have faithfully paid your premiums for years, it will not matter to your auto insurance company when you ask it to write you a check. Be prepared for your own insurance company to look for reasons to pay you less than you deserve.
How to Get a Fair Settlement for Your Car Accident Injuries from Your Own Insurance Company
There are a couple of ways you can make sure your own auto insurance company offers a fair settlement for your injuries:
1. Prove the Extent of Your Car Crash Injuries through Medical Records
Even your own auto insurance company is unlikely to believe you when you tell them how injured you are after a crash. They want solid proof of your injuries. Documenting your injuries through medical records is the best way to get them that proof.
That’s why we tell you to see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident. Take an ambulance from the scene of the crash if it’s available. Otherwise, make an appointment to see a doctor about your crash-related injuries as soon as you can.
After your injuries have been evaluated, keep getting treatment until you are healed, or until the doctor says you are as healed as you will get. This treatment will be documented in your medical records and should be solid evidence of the injuries you suffered.
2. Hire an Experienced Iowa Car Accident Lawyer to Protect Your Rights
While not every car crash needs an attorney, some do. If you have been seriously injured in a car accident, it’s likely you’ll need an attorney to protect your rights and get a fair settlement.
There are a few ways that an attorney can help.
For example, your insurance policy may say you are required to give a recorded statement after a crash. If so, we recommend you do so only after consulting with an experienced Iowa car accident lawyer. You have the right to have an attorney present during this interview, and should exercise that right. An experienced attorney will protect you from improper questions and answers which may come back to haunt you.
While your recorded statement is being taken, make sure to answer any questions truthfully, but don’t offer any information that they don’t ask for. If you can’t recall specific details, it is better to admit what you don’t know rather than say something that isn’t completely accurate.
If you have more questions on how an experienced Iowa car accident lawyer can help you, fill out the form on the right to download your free copy of the Law Guide to Iowa Car Accident Claims.
