EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Dealing with car insurance after a crash can feel confusing, but attorney Daniela Labinoti warns drivers to be careful about what they say and agree to — especially if an insurance company asks for a recorded statement or offers a quick settlement.
In this segment of Legal Jargon, Labinoti said many consumers worry their insurance rates will go up, and may think they can keep an accident from being reported. But she said insurance companies often find out anyway because “they share their data.”
When it comes to communicating with insurers after an accident, Labinoti advised against speaking with an insurance company or giving a recorded statement without first having an attorney. She said insurance companies may try to get people to admit to things “that are not necessarily true.”
Labinoti said insurers may ask questions such as, “Oh, you’re not injured right or this is not a big deal,” or offer a quick payout: “Oh, I can give you $5,000, and you can go home.”
She said she has seen situations where people accepted a $5,000 agreement, only to later face much higher medical costs.
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In one example, Labinoti said a person agreed to $5,000 even though their “UMC bill or hospital bill is $50,000.”
Labinoti said some people believe the $5,000 is money for them personally, “but no it was just for the whole case.” She also warned that settlements can be reached over the phone, and that once someone agrees, it may be difficult or impossible to undo.
“They want an attorney to save them, and so unless Dyser circumstances it could be too late because you now have reached a settlement agreement and agreed to sell your case,” Labinoti said.
She said that it can leave people unable to pay medical bills or fully address the situation. “Everything you say can it will be held against you,” she said.
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