Amidst the confusion of an accident, there are several things that an insurance company will attempt to do. An insurance adjuster will contact anyone involved and talked to them about the accident. One of the most common mistakes I come across is the inability to see that the insurance adjuster is not your friend. Often, people volunteer their information and even sign releases without truly understanding what the adjuster is after. So, what is it that the adjuster is trying to get you to sign?

An adjuster will give you a release that he or she asks you to sign so that they can look at your medical records from the accident. The secret is that, when you sign this form, you are actually granting the adjuster permission to look through all of your past records. This could include past medical records, employment, driving records, and more. What is the danger in that? The insurance company will later use this information against you when you are determining a fair amount of compensation for your losses. After all, the adjuster works for the insurance company, not you.

Imagine that you had been injured in a car accident. If the adjuster has access to all of your records, they could bring up a previous injury that may not have anything to do with your current injury. Any previous injuries could be treated as evidence that your losses are not solely due to your accident.

Don't sign anything before speaking with an experienced person injury lawyer in your area. An attorney knows which information you do not have to volunteer and how to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company. As you can see, the insurance company and their adjusters have many advantages. They understand what questions to ask and what facts to look for after an accident in order to have a successful case. An experienced accident attorney can give you the same advantage that the insurance companies do. There are mistakes that you can make after an accident that will ruin your claim. Don't let it happen to you.

If you don't hire an attorney, keep in mind that honesty is the best policy. Not telling the truth about past injuries and accidents will not help you get a settlement from the insurance company. You may still want to consider finding information to help you understand what happens in a personal injury claim.


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Jim Brown is a personal injury attorney based in St. Louis, Missouri. He has written several publications, including a guide ror accidents in Missouri and Illinois. You can request a free copy of, "I Survived! The Crash Victim's Guide to Dealing with the Aftermath," to help you get through the post-accident period by going to his website at http://www.CastleLaw.net and clicking "Contact Us."