Part Two of Ten Tips to Maximize Your Recovery discusses what not to give to the insurance company in the event of an accident. Our Toledo, Ohio personal injury attorneys remind you that if you've been injured in an accident, the initial steps you take can make a big difference to the outcome of your case. Here are tips four and five to help you avoid insurance company traps and receive fair compensation for your injury:



4. Don't provide a statement to the adjuster.

If an insurance adjuster contacts you, don't make any statements about the accident, your physical condition, and whether you're being treating by a doctor. The adjuster may be recording your conversation and certainly will be taking notes. You can settle any claims dealing with the damage to your vehicle, but any statements you make about your injuries could come back to haunt you. Simply thank the adjuster for calling, tell her that you don't want to make any statements, and that you don't want her to call back. Tell the adjuster you'll initiate a conversation when you're ready. You don't have to be rude, but you need to be firm. The adjuster can't make you talk.

It's a foreign concept to most people, but you have to view your injury case with the idea that it could go to trial. Most cases don't, but you don't want to hinder your negotiating strength by making a statement to an adjuster that can be misconstrued or twisted. The concern about making a statement is that you may not know the extent of your injuries right after an accident. It's not uncommon for people to feel worse in the weeks or months following the accident than they do in the immediate aftermath.

One way to avoid awkward conversations with an adjuster or making statements that could hurt your case is to contact a lawyer to represent you. Your lawyer will stop the adjuster from having any further contact with you.

5. Don't sign any medical authorization forms at the request of an insurance company.

Insurance companies often try to get accident victims to sign and return authorization forms that allow them to obtain your medical records. The forms usually are drafted so the insurer gains access to all of your medical information, not just information relating to your accident. It allows an insurance company to go on a fishing expedition for any other medical problems that might explain the pain you're experiencing.

If your injuries are serious, you should consult an attorney to deal with these issues. Your attorney will ask you to sign medical authorization forms that will be used to obtain the information that's related to your accident. Only the information relevant to your accident or injury will be sent to the insurance company so your claim can be evaluated. This protects you from having personal information winding up in the wrong hands.