After a car accident, you’ll probably get a call from the other driver’s insurance company. They may seem polite, even helpful. But remember, they don’t work for you, and they aren’t on “your side.”
In Iowa, you’re not legally required to give a recorded statement or speak with the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster. In fact, doing so can hurt your case. These calls are often fishing expeditions to find ways to minimize what the insurance company pays or deny the claim entirely.
The insurance adjuster for the other driver might ask you things like:
- “How are you feeling today?”
- “Did you see the other car before the crash?”
- “Were you speeding?”
Your answers, even innocent ones, can be twisted later.
Instead, focus on getting medical care and documenting your injuries. Report the accident to your own insurance company, but don’t discuss the details of the crash with the other driver’s side until you’ve talked to a lawyer.
Iowa law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. But the sooner you act, the better. Evidence disappears. Memories fade. And the insurance companies aren’t waiting around.
