Auto insurance companies will examine the scene of the accident, the wrecked vehicles, and witness statements to determine what happened. They’ll also read accident reports from the responding officers and look over witness statements. In some cases, they’ll use accident reconstruction teams to better show how an accident unfolded.
The Good and Bad of the Car Insurance Company’s Accident Investigation
Car insurance companies go to work immediately to determine who was to blame for your accident. It’s an important question, because the at-fault party’s insurer can be responsible for a mountain of medical debt and other damages.
Most insurers will go as far as necessary to get to the truth of what happened, especially if they believe their policyholder wasn’t to blame.
These are just a few of the steps insurance companies take when determining who is liable for an accident:
- Going over your testimony and the other driver’s account of what happened. They’ll likely weigh their policyholders’ testimony over yours, but your lawyer helps balance the scales.
- Send insurance adjusters to the scene of an accident. The wreckage will likely have been cleared, but some evidence may still be available.
- Examine the vehicles involved. A visit to the holding lot or junk yard allows adjusters to go over the impact points and determine the direction cars were headed when the impact occurred.
- Accident reconstruction. In some cases, insurers will use their own team of accident reconstruction specialists to examine the collision and the scene to help determine what happened. Powerful software may also help simulate the crash.
- Expert witnesses. Insurance companies may hire expert witnesses to go over the evidence and testify to what they believe happened.
- Secure the Police Accident Report. Insurers will seek the accident report prepared by the Bakersfield police department or the CHP. If this accident report helps the insurer shed blame, they’ll likely use it as evidence. If the report points the finger of blame at their driver, they’ll probably throw the report out.
- They don’t really know or don’t care. Some shady insurers only care about their profits. They’ll point the finger of blame at the other driver (you), no matter what the evidence says. They hope this allows them to either reject your claim or convince you to take a discount on the support you should be getting.
Car accident victims should know that they have the right to question the insurer, fight back, and even bring in a skilled lawyer to clear up discrepancies.
A Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer utilizes all of the above investigative tools and evidence collection mentioned above and more to make sure the facts can’t be changed.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Kern County Accident?
If your accident only involves vehicle damage or very minor injuries, you might not need the help of an attorney. The process of collision repair and payment has become pretty standardized in the insurance claims process. You should get fair treatment on your own.
But if the crash leaves you or a loved one with a serious injury, and a careless driver was to blame, it’s a good idea to speak with a real lawyer in a free case consultation.
The increased recovery time and medical costs can make car insurance companies fight harder to avoid having to accept the cost. Your lawyer is a safeguard when insurers hurl false accusations at you. Your lawyer also has a good chance to earn you much more in a settlement than you could by going it alone.
Keep in mind, if you do need the help of Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay a lawyer. We don’t earn anything unless we win your case. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that a car insurance company is forced to write.