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Why You Should be Careful What you Say to an Insurance Adjuster
After an accident or unfortunate event, you may need to contact your insurance company to notify them of any injuries or property damage. You may also need to contact someone else’s insurance company to file a claim. How you handle communicating with insurance companies can have a profound impact on your personal injury case.
Remember, insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart. The insurance company’s goal is to minimize the amount of money they have to pay out in claims, so it’s important to be cautious when communicating with them. Taking the time to prepare and getting the right support can help you get the best outcome possible.
At Wham & Rogers, we have helped numerous clients with all sorts of personal injury matters. We have seen and heard nearly every argument possible from insurance companies attempting to minimize claims. What’s more, we know how to fight back! Call us at (832) 592-1108 to get help with your insurance claim.
What You Say (and Post) Matters
After an accident, you may receive a call from yours, or the other party’s, insurance companies. You may be asked to provide a formal statement about what happened and the outcome. Be very cautious with what you say if you choose to provide a statement. Insurance adjusters are notorious for asking ambiguous questions and confusing consumers to get them to make statements that will harm their case later.
But speaking to insurance companies directly is not the only concern. In today’s digital age, more people are turning to social media as a means of communication and sharing information. Unfortunately, there are drawbacks to having information so readily available. When it comes to insurance claims, insurance adjusters frequently look at social media to get information about claimants.
How Could Social Media Posts Affect my Claim?
If you are posting a lot of details about your accident or injuries, your opinions, or your communications with other parties involved, it could damage your chances of getting a simple and fair settlement. This is especially true if you post comments about your own liability, pre-existing conditions, or other parties involved.
Even seemingly innocuous posts or comments can be used against you. For example, if you make a statement on social media about the accident or your injuries that contradicts what you have previously told the insurance company, this could be used to undermine your credibility.
To protect your insurance claim, it’s best to avoid posting anything related to the accident or your injuries on social media. It’s also important to adjust your privacy settings to limit who can see your posts and to avoid accepting friend requests from people you don’t know.
In addition, it’s a good idea to talk to your personal injury lawyer about social media use and how it could impact your claim. They can advise you on how to best protect your legal interests and ensure that you don’t inadvertently harm your case through your social media activity.
Tips for Communicating with Insurance Companies
If you need to communicate with an insurance company after an accident, here are some tips that may help:
- Be Careful What you Say: Avoid making any statements that could be interpreted as admitting fault or downplaying the severity of your injuries or damages. Stick to the facts and be honest, but be careful not to say anything that could harm your case.
- Get Organized: Gather any relevant documents or evidence related to your accident, including police reports, medical bills, and repair estimates. This will help you provide accurate and comprehensive information to the insurance company.
- Keep Records: Take notes of all conversations with the insurance company, including the date, time, and the name of the person you spoke with. This will help you keep track of what was discussed and ensure that you have accurate records.
- Don’t Rush to Settle: Insurance companies often try to settle claims quickly, but it is important to take the time to fully evaluate your damages and understand the extent of your injuries before accepting any settlement offers.
- Consider Hiring a Lawyer: If you are having difficulty communicating with the insurance company or feel that you are not being treated fairly, it may be beneficial to hire a personal injury lawyer. They can help protect your legal rights and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
As a general rule, it is best to speak with a lawyer before speaking with an insurance company or adjuster. If you hire a lawyer to represent your interests, they can also handle communicating with insurance companies on your behalf.
Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help me Communicate with Insurance Adjusters?
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize the amount of money that their company has to pay out to claimants. They may use various tactics to achieve this goal. A personal injury lawyer can help you communicate effectively with insurance adjusters and protect your legal rights.
A personal injury lawyer can help you prepare for discussions with insurance adjusters by reviewing your case and determining the fair value of your claim. They can also advise you on what information you should disclose to the insurance adjuster and what information you should withhold.
If the insurance company is disputing your claim or denying liability, a personal injury lawyer can advocate for your rights and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. They can also represent you in court if your case goes to trial.
Get Help with Your Personal Injury Claim
If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you deserve the opportunity to fight for your rights and justice. At Wham & Rogers, our Board Certified personal injury lawyer can help you do just that. We know what it takes to obtain maximum compensation for your injuries, including dealing with challenging insurance adjusters.
If you have questions or concerns about your case, insurance adjusters, or your settlement, contact us today to see how we can help. Call (832) 592-1108 or Text (832) 413-1428 for a free consultation. Our personal injury lawyers also offer video consultations for your convenience.
The first step you should take is to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney. Losing a family member to violence or an accident is a staggering blow. It can be hard to know what steps to take and how to protect your family. Wham & Rogers offers experienced, compassionate representation to families suffering from the wrongful death of a spouse, parent or child. If your spouse, parent or child has suffered a fatal injury in an accident or due to the violent act of another, it is important to retain an experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible so the attorney can gather and preserve critical evidence before it is destroyed. What damages are recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit? Economic damages , such as medical bills, funeral expenses, lost wages and loss of household services can be recovered in a wrongful death claim. Non-economic damages such as emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and mental anguish are recoverable. Punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the person causing the death acted with malice or gross negligence. These damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and to act as a deterrent to others who may engage in the same wrongful behavior. How long do I have to make a claim for wrongful death? As a general rule, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of the negligence resulting in the fatality . This means you will have two years from the date of the negligence to file suit. However, it is advisable to retain a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible since it is important to gather evidence before it is destroyed. Which family members have a right to file a wrongful death claim? The surviving spouse, children and parents of the person who died has a right to bring a wrongful death claim. If the spouse, children or parents don’t bring the wrongful death claim, then the executor or administrator of the estate has the right to bring the wrongful death claim. What is a survival claim? If your family member did not die immediately, a personal injury claim may be filed for treatment expenses and each beneficiary of the estate may receive a portion of the recovery. Who can be held responsible for the wrongful death of my family member? A person who negligently, recklessly or intentionally caused the death of a person may be held responsible. Examples of wrongful death claims include trucking and automobile collisions, medical negligence, products liability, on the job injuries, and deaths due to inadequate security of premises. How do you prove a wrongful death case in Texas? In Texas, you must prove that a legal duty owed to the deceased was breached, causing the wrongful death. For example, there is a legal duty to operate a truck in accordance with the traffic laws in Texas. If the truck driver is speeding or fails to keep a proper lookout causing a wrongful death, that duty is breached and the trucking company may be liable for the wrongful death. How do I pay for a wrongful death lawsuit? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers handle wrongful death cases on a contingency basis. This means that you do not have to pay us unless there is a monetary recovery in the wrongful death claim. The attorneys at Wham & Rogers are experienced in handling wrongful death claims with skill, kindness and compassion. Please call 832-592-1108 , or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
We receive calls daily from injured people who can’t find a doctor to treat them. Their primary care physician won’t see them, and they can’t find an orthopedic specialist who will see them. Sometimes, doctors walk out of the examination room once they find that the patient was in an accident . Why is this happening? There are a number of reasons doctors do not want to see injured patients. Delays in payment by health insurance companies: Health insurance companies may take the position that the patient’s auto insurance personal injury protection coverage is primary and should pay before the health insurance pays. Doctors do not want to wait to be paid until after this issue is sorted out. Health insurance may not pay until subrogation (right to be reimbursed) issues are taken care of, so that the health insurance company knows it will be paid back from any settlement. Harassment by auto insurance companies: Doctors who treat injured patients have become a target of auto insurance companies. Insurance defense attorneys send extremely burdensome, overly broad depositions on written questions (questionnaires) requiring the doctors to dig through years of data about payments received for treating injured patients. Auto insurance companies have also sued doctors who treat injured people, accusing them of fraud, conspiracy and the like. Auto insurers accuse doctors of performing unneeded treatment and/or overcharging for treatment. Auto insurers also retain “hired guns” to testify against treating doctors, criticizing the treating doctor’s every decision, even though the “hired gun” has never seen the patient. Why do insurance companies use these tactics? They want to make it harder for people to receive treatment so they can pay less to injured claimants and increase insurance company profits. How can I find a doctor to treat me following my accident? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers can help facilitate prompt medical treatment for you. Sometimes it is just a matter of letting the health insurance company know their subrogation interests (right to be reimbursed) will be protected. We can also help injured clients access their personal injury protection coverage to pay some of their medical bills. If you have been injured and are having trouble finding a doctor to treat you, please give Wham & Rogers a call at 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
Each year, 600 Texans are killed and 10,000 more are injured in trucking collisions. After a trucking crash, quick action is required. The trucking companies have legal teams ready to act after a crash occurs. They immediately send experts to the crash site, photographing and measuring the roadway and interviewing the witnesses. So if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking collision, letters requiring preservation of evidence should be sent immediately to the trucking company and to its insurers. Your lawyer should retain experts to perform computerized mapping of the crash site and to download the electronic control module of the 18-wheeler. And then after that, a qualified trucking liability expert should be retained to address the federal safety regulations that are critical to handling a truck crash claim. If you've been hit by a truck or commercial vehicle in The Woodlands, Spring or Conroe, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Please give us a call at (832) 592-1108 for a free consultation, or submit the contact form here.
What are the Most Dangerous Vehicles on Our Roads? 18 -wheelers are the deadliest vehicles on our highways. Each year, 600 Texans are killed, and 10,000 more are injured in trucking collisions. It’s obvious why 18-wheelers are so dangerous. They weigh twenty to thirty times more than passenger cars, have a much higher ground clearance, and require twenty to forty percent further to stop. Do Truck Drivers Have to Comply with Higher Safety Standards? Because of these dangers, the Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require higher standards for commercial drivers; driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle requires a higher level of knowledge, skill, and physical abilities than is required of other drivers. Truck drivers must know the safety rules and follow them. Trucking companies must have safety policies and implement safety training programs. Truckers must conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of their trucks. Why is Quick Action Essential After a Trucking Collision? If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking collision, quick action is required. The trucking companies have legal teams ready to act when a crash occurs. They send experts to the crash site, to photograph and measure the roadway, and to interview witnesses in order to try to minimize their liability. You need someone acting on your behalf to gather evidence and to ensure evidence is not destroyed. What Must be Done to Preserve Evidence Following a Collision With a Big Rig? Preservation of evidence letters should be sent to the trucking company and its insurers. Experts should be retained to perform computerized mapping of the crash site, and to download the 18 wheeler's electronic control module. A qualified trucking liability expert should be retained to address the federal safety regulation violations that are critical to handling truck crash claims. When we investigate trucking collisions, we often find that trucking companies fail to implement and follow adequate safety procedures, including failing to conduct the proper pre- and post-trip inspections. These failures to follow safety procedures often lead to otherwise avoidable collisions. Which Law Firm Should I Hire After an 18-Wheeler Collision? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers have the expertise and resources to handle trucking cases. We can get experts to the scene and have them gather data and download the electronic control module of the 18-wheeler before vital evidence is lost or destroyed. If you or a loved one has been in a collision with an 18-wheeler, the lawyers at Wham & Rogers can help you. Call 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. None of the information on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
The first step you should take is to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney. Losing a family member to violence or an accident is a staggering blow. It can be hard to know what steps to take and how to protect your family. Wham & Rogers offers experienced, compassionate representation to families suffering from the wrongful death of a spouse, parent or child. If your spouse, parent or child has suffered a fatal injury in an accident or due to the violent act of another, it is important to retain an experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible so the attorney can gather and preserve critical evidence before it is destroyed. What damages are recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit? Economic damages , such as medical bills, funeral expenses, lost wages and loss of household services can be recovered in a wrongful death claim. Non-economic damages such as emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and mental anguish are recoverable. Punitive damages may be awarded in cases where the person causing the death acted with malice or gross negligence. These damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and to act as a deterrent to others who may engage in the same wrongful behavior. How long do I have to make a claim for wrongful death? As a general rule, the statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of the negligence resulting in the fatality . This means you will have two years from the date of the negligence to file suit. However, it is advisable to retain a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible since it is important to gather evidence before it is destroyed. Which family members have a right to file a wrongful death claim? The surviving spouse, children and parents of the person who died has a right to bring a wrongful death claim. If the spouse, children or parents don’t bring the wrongful death claim, then the executor or administrator of the estate has the right to bring the wrongful death claim. What is a survival claim? If your family member did not die immediately, a personal injury claim may be filed for treatment expenses and each beneficiary of the estate may receive a portion of the recovery. Who can be held responsible for the wrongful death of my family member? A person who negligently, recklessly or intentionally caused the death of a person may be held responsible. Examples of wrongful death claims include trucking and automobile collisions, medical negligence, products liability, on the job injuries, and deaths due to inadequate security of premises. How do you prove a wrongful death case in Texas? In Texas, you must prove that a legal duty owed to the deceased was breached, causing the wrongful death. For example, there is a legal duty to operate a truck in accordance with the traffic laws in Texas. If the truck driver is speeding or fails to keep a proper lookout causing a wrongful death, that duty is breached and the trucking company may be liable for the wrongful death. How do I pay for a wrongful death lawsuit? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers handle wrongful death cases on a contingency basis. This means that you do not have to pay us unless there is a monetary recovery in the wrongful death claim. The attorneys at Wham & Rogers are experienced in handling wrongful death claims with skill, kindness and compassion. Please call 832-592-1108 , or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
We receive calls daily from injured people who can’t find a doctor to treat them. Their primary care physician won’t see them, and they can’t find an orthopedic specialist who will see them. Sometimes, doctors walk out of the examination room once they find that the patient was in an accident . Why is this happening? There are a number of reasons doctors do not want to see injured patients. Delays in payment by health insurance companies: Health insurance companies may take the position that the patient’s auto insurance personal injury protection coverage is primary and should pay before the health insurance pays. Doctors do not want to wait to be paid until after this issue is sorted out. Health insurance may not pay until subrogation (right to be reimbursed) issues are taken care of, so that the health insurance company knows it will be paid back from any settlement. Harassment by auto insurance companies: Doctors who treat injured patients have become a target of auto insurance companies. Insurance defense attorneys send extremely burdensome, overly broad depositions on written questions (questionnaires) requiring the doctors to dig through years of data about payments received for treating injured patients. Auto insurance companies have also sued doctors who treat injured people, accusing them of fraud, conspiracy and the like. Auto insurers accuse doctors of performing unneeded treatment and/or overcharging for treatment. Auto insurers also retain “hired guns” to testify against treating doctors, criticizing the treating doctor’s every decision, even though the “hired gun” has never seen the patient. Why do insurance companies use these tactics? They want to make it harder for people to receive treatment so they can pay less to injured claimants and increase insurance company profits. How can I find a doctor to treat me following my accident? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers can help facilitate prompt medical treatment for you. Sometimes it is just a matter of letting the health insurance company know their subrogation interests (right to be reimbursed) will be protected. We can also help injured clients access their personal injury protection coverage to pay some of their medical bills. If you have been injured and are having trouble finding a doctor to treat you, please give Wham & Rogers a call at 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
Each year, 600 Texans are killed and 10,000 more are injured in trucking collisions. After a trucking crash, quick action is required. The trucking companies have legal teams ready to act after a crash occurs. They immediately send experts to the crash site, photographing and measuring the roadway and interviewing the witnesses. So if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking collision, letters requiring preservation of evidence should be sent immediately to the trucking company and to its insurers. Your lawyer should retain experts to perform computerized mapping of the crash site and to download the electronic control module of the 18-wheeler. And then after that, a qualified trucking liability expert should be retained to address the federal safety regulations that are critical to handling a truck crash claim. If you've been hit by a truck or commercial vehicle in The Woodlands, Spring or Conroe, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Please give us a call at (832) 592-1108 for a free consultation, or submit the contact form here.
What are the Most Dangerous Vehicles on Our Roads? 18 -wheelers are the deadliest vehicles on our highways. Each year, 600 Texans are killed, and 10,000 more are injured in trucking collisions. It’s obvious why 18-wheelers are so dangerous. They weigh twenty to thirty times more than passenger cars, have a much higher ground clearance, and require twenty to forty percent further to stop. Do Truck Drivers Have to Comply with Higher Safety Standards? Because of these dangers, the Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require higher standards for commercial drivers; driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle requires a higher level of knowledge, skill, and physical abilities than is required of other drivers. Truck drivers must know the safety rules and follow them. Trucking companies must have safety policies and implement safety training programs. Truckers must conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of their trucks. Why is Quick Action Essential After a Trucking Collision? If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking collision, quick action is required. The trucking companies have legal teams ready to act when a crash occurs. They send experts to the crash site, to photograph and measure the roadway, and to interview witnesses in order to try to minimize their liability. You need someone acting on your behalf to gather evidence and to ensure evidence is not destroyed. What Must be Done to Preserve Evidence Following a Collision With a Big Rig? Preservation of evidence letters should be sent to the trucking company and its insurers. Experts should be retained to perform computerized mapping of the crash site, and to download the 18 wheeler's electronic control module. A qualified trucking liability expert should be retained to address the federal safety regulation violations that are critical to handling truck crash claims. When we investigate trucking collisions, we often find that trucking companies fail to implement and follow adequate safety procedures, including failing to conduct the proper pre- and post-trip inspections. These failures to follow safety procedures often lead to otherwise avoidable collisions. Which Law Firm Should I Hire After an 18-Wheeler Collision? The attorneys at Wham & Rogers have the expertise and resources to handle trucking cases. We can get experts to the scene and have them gather data and download the electronic control module of the 18-wheeler before vital evidence is lost or destroyed. If you or a loved one has been in a collision with an 18-wheeler, the lawyers at Wham & Rogers can help you. Call 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 for a free consultation.
1. Do I really need a personal injury lawyer? Yes, if you have a significant injury, choosing the right lawyer to handle your injury claim matters. Now more than ever, having the right lawyer can make a tremendous difference for the success of your claim. Insurance companies use sophisticated negotiation tactics to help them minimize your claim, or even avoid paying altogether. And make no mistake—the claims adjuster is not on your side. The adjuster, in a very real sense, is your opponent, and is specifically trained to make sure you don’t receive the maximum recovery you’re entitled to. 2. Does it really make a difference which lawyer I hire? Absolutely. The stronger your lawyer, the stronger your claim. Insurance companies keep track of which lawye rs have the experience, the resources, and the willingness to fight for their clients. They know which law firms are high-volume firms looking for a quick, easy settlement, and which lawyers are willing to do the hard work of fighting to get full justice. We have had clients contact us because a high-volume firm dropped their case after the insurance company “denied liability” and refused to pay quickly. 3. How do I find the best personal injury attorney? First, look at the lawyer’s qualifications and credentials. For example, the State Bar of Texas has a Board of Legal Specialization that certifies lawyers who are experts at handling personal injury claims. Fewer than 3% of Texas lawyers are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. You should also check the lawyer’s ethics. One of the best sources is Martindale-Hubbel’s attorney ratings. The highest rating is AV-Preeminent—which means the lawyer is considered ethical by his peers and has demonstrated the highest level of competence. Next, consider the size of the firm. If you are represented by a large law firm, chances are you will not be represented by the best, most experienced lawyer at that firm, and your case will instead be “handed down” to an associate for handling. Hiring a “boutique” litigation firm, with fewer lawyers handling fewer cases, will mean that the firm’s top lawyers are directly involved in the handling of your claim. Beware of firms that advertise “billions of dollars in past recoveries.” Quite often, those recoveries include class action case results, involving thousands of clients, with each client receiving a relatively small recovery. Look instead for a lawyer who has a record of achieving substantial recoveries for individual clients. Find a lawyer who has “been there, done that.” Specific experience is important, so look for a lawyer who has widespread experience handling serious injury claims, including wrongful death claims, truck crash cases, and complex cases involving complicated injuries such as paralysis and traumatic brain injury. Wham & Rogers attorneys have over 70 years combined experience in personal injury law. Mark Wham is Board Certified in Personal Injury Law. Rene Rogers has been AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbel for 30 years. Ryan Wham attended one of the best law schools in the country, the University of Texas School of law and was a member of UT’s prestigious Law Review. Prior to going to work for his parents at Wham & Rogers, Ryan worked at one of the largest law firms in the world. If you are looking for a highly qualified, experienced personal injury firm, contact Wham & Rogers for a free consultation. Call 832-592-1108 or text 832-413-1428 .
We are often asked whether pedestrians or cars have the right of way on pathways and at intersections. Many trails or pathways which cross intersections have stop signs. Pedestrians and bicyclists must obey these signs when they come to an intersection. When approaching an intersection, pedestrians should always stop and look both ways before crossing the intersection. If there is a traffic control device, pedestrians should always wait for the “walk” light to be illuminated before proceeding. Pedestrians, cyclists, and runners should slow down to allow enough time when nearing an intersection that is not controlled by a traffic signal.
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Take these steps after a collision to protect you and your rights in a Houston, The Woodlands and Spring car crash.
Two wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against Panera Bread Co.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. None of the information on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The verdicts and settlements listed are representative and are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of other claims.
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