Attorney Michael L. SaileAfter a serious traffic accident, dealing with the insurance company can feel almost as stressful as the injury itself. You may be facing unexpected calls, confusing paperwork, and pressure to settle before you’ve even had time to recover. Understanding how to deal with insurance companies in Pennsylvania after an accident is the first step toward protecting your right to fair compensation.
The insurance company is not acting in your best interests. It makes money by paying as little as possible, and it may use anything you say against you to achieve that goal. When you contact Cordisco & Saile, LLC, our attorneys can guide you through each step of your claim and prevent insurers from taking advantage of you.
Navigate This Page
- Steps To Take Right After the Accident
- How To Communicate With Insurance Adjusters After a Crash
- Insurance Company Tactics That Can Hurt Your Claim
- Understand Pennsylvania’s No-Fault and Tort Options
- Additional Tips To Strengthen Your Car Accident Claim
- We’re Here To Help With Your Pennsylvania Accident Claim
Steps To Take Right After the Accident
What you do immediately following a collision can strongly influence your recovery and the outcome of your insurance claim. Here’s how to protect yourself in those early moments.
Get Medical Care Right Away
See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you don’t feel seriously injured. Injuries often take time to develop symptoms, and early medical care allows your doctor to diagnose and treat them before they progress further.
Waiting to seek medical attention allows insurers to doubt whether the accident directly caused your injuries. A prompt evaluation protects your health and creates strong documentation tying your injuries to the accident.
Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company Promptly
Notify your insurance company shortly after the collision. You can do so by calling the number on the back of your insurance card or using the insurer’s mobile app. Keep the initial report simple by sharing only the date, time, location, and vehicles involved.
Avoid sharing details about fault, injuries, or what you think contributed to the crash. If you provide too much information at this stage, you may unintentionally say something that the insurer may use against you. A brief, factual report allows you to start claiming insurance after an accident while avoiding statements that might hurt your case later on.
Speak With an Attorney Before Talking Further With Insurers
Contact a car accident attorney as soon as you address your immediate medical needs. An attorney can explain your rights and guide you through the next steps in your claim. This typically begins with a free consultation.
Once you hire an attorney, they can handle communications with the insurer on your behalf. Having their support from the start can help you avoid mistakes that could reduce your compensation. With the right representation, you can focus on your recovery with peace of mind that someone is fighting for your interests.
How To Communicate With Insurance Adjusters After a Crash
Interacting with insurance adjusters requires caution and a clear understanding of your rights. What you say early on can shape the rest of your claim, so it’s important to approach these conversations with care.
Adjusters Protect the Insurance Company’s Interests
Insurance adjusters may sound friendly, but their role is to protect the insurance company—not you. They are trained to settle claims for as little money as possible, and they may use your statements to justify a lower settlement offer.
Keep this conflict of interest in mind any time you speak with an adjuster. They may seem like they’re on your side, but this is a strategy meant to let your guard down. Be skeptical of any “deals” or quick offers they make.
How To Handle the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company
The at-fault driver’s insurer may contact you soon after the accident. Keep your communication brief and factual, and avoid giving a recorded statement or signing any documents.
You have the right to decline a settlement offer or a request for information. You are not required to explain how the accident happened, describe your injuries, or speculate about fault. It’s usually best to stay silent and refer the insurer to your attorney.
Insurance Company Tactics That Can Hurt Your Claim
Insurance companies use various strategies to reduce the amount they pay after a collision. Knowledge is power when dealing with insurers, and recognizing these tactics can help you avoid being caught off guard.
Making Quick, Low Settlement Offers
The insurer may try to exploit any financial strain you’re experiencing to get you to accept less than you deserve in exchange for a fast payout. This often happens before you know the full extent of your damages. These early offers rarely account for future medical care or diminished earning capacity, and accepting too soon can leave you responsible for long-term costs.
Requesting Recorded Statements
An adjuster may contact you to request a recorded statement about what happened. They’ll then analyze your words and try to catch inconsistencies that they could use to minimize your compensation. Despite any pressure from the insurer, you do not have to provide a statement—and it’s generally best not to give one.
Misusing Comparative Negligence
Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence law allows the insurer to reduce your compensation if you’re partially at fault for the accident. Your percentage of fault will directly influence how much money you can recover—for instance, if you’re 30% at fault and your damages are worth $100,000, you’d receive a reduced amount of $70,000. And if you’re more than 50% at fault, the insurer can deny your claim entirely.
Insurers may try to use this rule to their advantage by assigning you a higher percentage of fault than the evidence supports. Even a slight percentage shift can result in thousands of dollars in savings for the insurance company, leaving less money for your recovery. Our attorneys can present supporting evidence and counter any unfair attempts to increase your share of fault.
Downplaying Your Injuries
The insurance company may try to argue that your injuries are unrelated to the crash, caused by a pre-existing condition, or not as severe as you claim. Adjusters may point to delayed treatment, prior medical issues, or minor inconsistencies in your records to support these claims.
Delaying the Claims Process
Prolonged silence and repeated requests for documents are common tactics insurers use to wear claimants down. Without strong legal support, these delays can pressure you into accepting less than you’re entitled to.
Understand Pennsylvania’s No-Fault and Tort Options
Pennsylvania uses a no-fault system for certain insurance accident claims. That means your own personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage pays for your medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash. Understanding how this system works can help you identify what type of compensation the insurer is responsible for paying you.
You may be eligible to pursue compensation beyond the no-fault system if your injuries exceed what PIP coverage provides and you file a liability claim against the at-fault driver. Your ability to recover pain and suffering or other non-economic damages depends on whether you selected limited tort or full tort coverage when you purchased your auto insurance.
With full tort coverage, you may pursue both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault driver. Limited tort coverage places limits on non-economic damages unless your injuries meet Pennsylvania’s serious injury threshold.
Additional Tips To Strengthen Your Car Accident Claim
Here are a few more ways to reduce opportunities for the insurer to dispute your case:
- Document everything: Save all records related to the accident and your injuries. These may include medical records, bills, repair statements, police reports, photos, and notes about your symptoms. Keep these documents organized in a safe place.
- Limit social media use: Avoid posting on social media until your case resolves. Insurers may monitor your accounts to find information to use against you.
- Know the deadline: Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline can mean losing your right to seek compensation, so it pays to keep it in mind.
- Act early: Begin the claims process as soon as possible after the crash. This helps you and your attorneys preserve evidence before it fades and allows enough time to build a strong case before the deadline.
We’re Here To Help With Your Pennsylvania Accident Claim
Dealing with insurance companies in Pennsylvania after an accident can add stress to an already challenging time. Leave the legal details to us while you focus on your health.
With over 30 years of experience representing car accident victims, Cordisco & Saile has what it takes to fight for you. Insurance companies know our clients mean business when they turn to our injury attorneys, and we’re ready to challenge any attempts to reduce your claim. Contact us at 215-642-2335 or through our online form to schedule a free consultation and discuss your situation with a member of our team.
