Honolulu Car Accident Lawyers

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Honolulu and are handling the case without the assistance of a car accident lawyer, you may not be familiar with how to handle the insurance company.  Here’s what you need to know.

Don’t Make a Statement to the Insurance Company Without Reading This First

If you are handling your claim against the insurance company on your own, you need to exercise caution regarding what types of information you release.  Many people do not understand how to respond to the insurance company’s request for a statement following a car accident. When the claims adjuster asks for a few “simple facts” about the accident, most people see no issue with obliging.

Unfortunately, providing the insurance company with a statement can be detrimental to your case and can damage your claim.  As any Honolulu car accident lawyer will tell you, the less you say the better.  In your statement, you could unwittingly provide information that allows the insurance company to establish you as at fault in the accident.  You could provide evidence of shared or comparative fault.  Your words could be used against you in court.

How To Respond to a Request for Facts

If you are asked for a statement, inquire as to why the facts cannot be obtained from the police report, the other driver’s statement or the witness’ statements.  If the claims adjuster persists, request that your insurance company be permitted to obtain a statement from the other driver.  You can also ask if the adjuster intends to use the statement in court, and then say that you will only speak on the condition that the words are used in court.

Tell your Honolulu Car Accident Lawyer About Previous Statements

Understand that your words can be used against you.  Should you later choose to hire a Honolulu car accident lawyer to defend your case, be upfront with the attorney about any potentially damaging statements you may have made.  Your attorney will take steps to minimize potential damage from your statements and protect your settlement.

If you’re considering hiring a Honolulu car accident lawyer, it’s important to know that the sooner you involve an attorney, the better.  An experienced car accident lawyer can prevent you from releasing unfavorable information in the first place and ward off intrusive claims adjusters.  Car accident lawyers are your best chance at getting a favorable outcome from your claim.

• If you have been involved in an Auto Accident and may need legal assistance, Submit Your Case for a Free Review from a Car Accident Lawyer in Honolulu.