How to deal with insurance companies if you’ve been in a car accident

The car accident insurance claims process is something many people don’t understand. Unless you’ve been through a car accident, you might not know what to expect. In addition, you might not know what to say. When the insurance adjuster calls, what should you disclose about the accident? Should you say it was your fault?

The problem with admitting fault is: there you are unaware of, and you may not actually be at fault. Or, your degree of fault might be minor. In fact, if you tell the insurance adjuster the accident was your fault, the insurance company might not compensate you fairly. Even worse, a company might deny your claim.

How is fault in a car accident determined in Texas?

Texas is a comparative fault insurance state. What this means is that drivers who are more than 50% at fault must take financial responsibility for an accident. The type of insurance that drivers carry in Texas is called liability insurance. Liability insurance pays for damages to the other car when you cause a car accident.

An attorney can help you with the car accident insurance claims process

When damage or injuries are significant, it is best to consult with an attorney. What you want to avoid is saying anything that an insurance company could use to build a case against you. Whatever you discuss with your lawyer is subject to attorney-client privilege. In other words, a lawyer keeps your conversation confidential.

Furthermore, a lawyer can investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident to determine the cause. After all, there could be factors you were unaware of. For example, perhaps the other driver was speeding, had violated a traffic law or was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The initial consultation is free. You can discuss your car accident at the Law Offices of Michael R. De La Paz and owe no out-of-pocket expenses. Legal fees would be part of the recovery, but only if we win or settle your case. Our law firm is based in San Antonio. However, we have handled numerous accident cases all over Texas, from Dallas to Laredo.