Parents Need to Be Ready to Help Teens Deal With Insurance Companies After an Accident
As a parent, there’s a lot you’ll need to do for your teen after he or she has been hurt in a car accident. However, as concern about your teen’s physical recovery takes the top priority, don’t forget about protecting his or her legal rights, too. There are some things teens should know about dealing with another driver’s insurance company after a serious wreck, and it’s up to you to help them avoid wrecking their rights.
What Teens Need to Understand About the Other Driver’s Insurance Company After a Wreck
Even as an experienced adult, it can be difficult to deal with the demands of pursuing compensation for a serious injury in an accident. Teens, however, don’t have an adult’s experience with driving, and they often don’t understand potential pitfalls of filing an injury claim against the negligent driver’s insurance company. Before he or she is contacted by an insurance adjuster, here’s what your teen should know:
- The insurance company is trying to help, but they don’t work for your family. No matter how friendly or helpful the insurance company’s representatives may seem, they are trained to minimize how much their employer must pay out after an accident. While they aren’t really “out to get you,” they are interested in any information that may help them reduce the amount an injury claim is ultimately worth.
- Always stick to the facts and the truth. Many teens think that they can help by exaggerating or lying about what happened, but they need to know that this is more likely to hurt the chances of success. If they have been legitimately injured because of another driver’s negligence, there is absolutely no need to lie or “pad the truth.” However, it is important that they stick to facts and avoid offering more information than is strictly necessary. If your family is having trouble deciding what is appropriate, don’t be afraid to talk with an attorney and bring your teen along.
- Be careful what you post online. Most modern teens are hooked on social media and post everything about their lives on Facebook, Twitter, and other sites. However, insurance companies can and will look for information about your teen online that could be used to call a claim into question. If in doubt, make sure your teen knows not to talk about the accident online—you might even consider having your teen avoid social media entirely until everything has been settled.
The aftermath of a serious accident can be especially hard on teens, but it is possible to get through it. This little bit of simple guidance about the reality of dealing with an insurance company can save you and your teen a lot of struggles down the road and help you find success in your case.
Get Help With Your Accident Questions Today
If your family needs help after your teenaged child has been involved in an accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced legal team 312-332-1400 for a free case review and answers to your questions. We have extensive experience working with children, teens, and families in difficult legal situations, and we would be happy to answer your questions today.
