How Do Insurance Companies Investigate Car Accidents?

If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident and have filed an insurance claim, you can expect the insurance company to send an adjuster out to investigate what happened. As of July 13, 2023, 59,619 crashes have been reported in Massachusetts, which demonstrates that insurance companies are quite familiar with car accident investigations. While the adjuster might seem friendly and caring, you should recognize that they are there on the insurance company’s behalf instead of yours. They try to keep their employer’s liability as low as possible when they investigate claims. So, how do insurance companies investigate car accidents? Let’s explore the basics.

You should always assume that the insurance company will look for evidence to try to reduce the value of your claim. Since insurance companies are in business to make money, keeping their costs low is a priority. Knowing how insurance companies investigate car accidents can help you avoid making mistakes that could hurt your claim and your ability to recover compensation for your losses. Companies typically take several steps when investigating car accidents.

Visit the Scene

Soon after an insurance company learns about a serious accident, it might send investigators to the scene where it occurred. Insurance companies do this to gather additional information about what might have contributed to the accident. Investigators might look for things like debris in the road, tire skid marks, traffic control devices, speed limit signs, and other relevant evidence at the accident scene.

Inspect the Damage

Your insurance company will likely want you to take your car to an approved shop to get an estimate. If the damage is bad, your car will likely be towed from the scene directly to the shop the company partners with in your area. The mechanic will inspect the damage and draw up an estimate for the total repair costs, and the shop will send this estimate to your insurance company. The company may send an adjuster to look at your vehicle and the other car and take photographs of the damage.

Interview Drivers and Witnesses

Insurance companies commonly try to get recorded interviews of both drivers and any witnesses who saw what happened. If an adjuster asks you to give a recorded statement, you need to be careful. Insurance companies like recorded statements because they can then pore over them to try to use statements you might make against you in your claim. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to trip people up and get them to say things that could reduce the value of their claims.

If you file a no-fault claim with your insurance company, you likely have a provision in your insurance policy that requires you to speak to your insurance company. When you talk to them, stick to the facts. If you are unsure of something, tell them that.

If you were seriously injured and filed a claim against the other driver, you are not legally obligated to talk to their insurance company. When the at-fault driver’s insurance company contacts you and asks for a recorded interview, you should politely decline and tell them you don’t want to make a statement until you have spoken with an injury lawyer. Once you retain a lawyer, your attorney can handle the communications for you and supervise any interview you agree to give.

Gather Evidence

The insurance company will gather evidence about your accident, including photographs, witness statements, police reports, estimates, and medical records. The company needs to review them to evaluate your claim and its value.

However, you should avoid signing any medical authorizations the insurance company might send you without speaking to a lawyer. Insurance companies frequently use blanket authorizations so that they can go through your complete medical record to look for an earlier incident on which they can blame your injuries. Your lawyer can handle medical disclosures for you and provide copies of relevant records to the insurance company.

Consult an Experienced Injury Lawyer

After being injured in a car accident in Massachusetts, you can expect the insurance company to investigate your case. It’s a good idea to consult an experienced injury lawyer at the law firm of Ellis & Associates to protect your rights. Call us today to schedule a free consultation at 800-MR-ELLIS.