Can Insurance Companies Follow Me after an Accident Injury?

The last thing you thought about this morning when you got into your car heading for work was getting into an accident. The statistics say more than 2 million people will be injured in a car accident his year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there were more than 22-thousand passengers who died in vehicles in 2015. That same year 647 Alabamians lost their lives in a car accident.

Right After an Auto Accident

The worst thing you can do after an Alabama car accident is to leave the scene. You must stay and call 911 if the damage at the scene exceeds $250. Be specific and give the location. Ascertain if there are any injuries. Make sure you are off the road and away from traffic. Police will respond if there are injuries. You also have a duty to help anyone injured at the scene.

Remember not to engage in a conversation with the other side. You do need to exchange your names, addresses, registration number of the cars involved as well as your insurance information. Do not apologize at the scene. That later could be used against you.

You will contact your insurance company to report the accident. Also contact the other driver’s insurance company. A claims adjuster will get involved, investigating the claim to determine who is at fault.

If you are injured at the scene and suspect you may have sustained injuries you should go to the emergency room or make an appointment as soon as possible. Any delay in medical care will signal to the other side that you didn’t really suffer injuries from the accident.

Remember that soft tissue injuries may not show up immediately. So, while you may feel fine initially after an auto accident, give the body some time to react before you come to the conclusion that you are “fine”.
Can You Be Followed?

If you have been injured in an auto accident a personal injury lawyer is prevented under professional rules to show up at the scene. That does not preclude an insurance company representative from doing so. 

It is also not impossible that the adjuster to offer to cut you a check right on the spot precluding you from filing any further action against the at-fault party. But if you have extensive injuries or car damage, you will be out of luck if you take that check.

That is when you know you probably have a good case. Do not take the first offer and certainly without talking to your experienced auto accident attorney.

If you claim you have been injured as a result of the auto accident, it is very possible that the insurance adjuster for the other side will hire an investigator to follow you. 

He or she may take photos of you in the gym, walking the dog, or doing anything that shows you are not as injured as you claim. Working out at the gym may be something your doctor prescribed, but a photo can hurt your case without the proper context.

Insurance companies are for-profit entities. They help their bottom line when they undervalue or devalue your claim. While having an insurance investigator follow you is unlikely, it can and does happen.

Alabama an At-Fault State

Because Alabama is a “fault” state, you must carry auto insurance. A failure to do so is a violation of Alabama’s Mandatory Liability Insurance Law and you could be fined. Unlike no-fault car insurance states, you must seek compensation from the other sides’ car insurance carrier.

Without insurance you may be personally liable for any injuries suffered by the occupants of the other vehicle. The person who was at fault must cover the harm resulting from the accident.

Your minimum mandatory insurance requirements to cover liability include:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person
• $50,000 total bodily injury when two or more are injured
• $25,000 property damage per accident

Your Alabama Accident Attorney

The at-fault driver’s insurance policy should cover the losses suffered due to this auto accident. Before accepting any offer, Mr. Nix will weigh in on whether it is adequate compensation for what you have lost due to your auto accident.

You have two years from the time of the accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party to seek the compensation you deserve for lost wages, compensation for medical bills, and pain and suffering. Call us right away at 334-203-6669.