How to Deal with Your Insurance Company After a Car Accident

After a car accident, the way you communicate with your insurance company can have a major impact on your claim. Even a few wrong words or assumptions can cost you thousands of dollars. Insurance companies may sound cooperative at first, but remember, their goal is to protect their profits, not your recovery.

At Big Auto Accident Attorneys, we help clients across Arizona handle insurers the right way, by protecting their rights and ensuring they receive full compensation for vehicle damage, medical bills, and other losses. Here’s how to manage the process step-by-step.

Step 1: Notify Your Insurance Company Promptly

Most insurance policies require you to report an accident “within a reasonable time.” Delaying can give the insurer a reason to deny your claim later. When you report, keep your statement brief and factual. Provide:

• The date, time, and location of the crash
  
• The names of everyone involved
  
• The police report number, if available

Do not speculate about fault or injuries. Simply say, “The investigation is ongoing.” Anything you say can be used to reduce your payout later.

Step 2: Limit What You Say to Adjusters

Soon after the report, an insurance adjuster, either from your insurer or the other driver’s, will contact you. Their job is to gather information that minimizes the company’s payout.

Here’s what to remember:

• Be polite but cautious.
  
• Decline to give a recorded statement until you’ve spoken with a lawyer.
  
• Never guess or downplay your injuries, even if you “feel fine.”
  
• Don’t agree to an early settlement. These offers are designed to close your case cheaply before all your damages are known.

Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators. Having a car accident lawyer handle these communications ensures you don’t accidentally weaken your claim.

Step 3: Document Everything

Evidence is power in insurance negotiations. Keep a detailed record of everything related to your crash:

• Police reports
  
• Medical bills and doctor’s notes
  
• Photos of the accident scene and vehicle damage
  
• Correspondence with insurance representatives
  
• Notes about pain levels, missed work, and emotional effects

This documentation helps your attorney build a strong, evidence-based case that supports both economic and non-economic damages.

Step 4: Understand the Coverage You’re Dealing With

Arizona is a fault-based insurance state, which means the at-fault driver (and their insurer) is responsible for paying damages. But which coverage applies depends on the situation:

• Liability coverage – Pays for injuries or property damage the at-fault driver caused.
  
• Collision coverage – Pays for your vehicle repairs regardless of fault (subject to your deductible).
  
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – Covers your losses if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance.
  
• Medical Payments (MedPay) – Optional coverage that pays your medical bills regardless of fault.

An attorney can review your policy and determine how to access every available source of recovery.

Step 5: Don’t Sign Anything Without Legal Review

Insurance companies sometimes send “release” forms that look harmless but can waive your right to future compensation, especially for injuries that worsen over time.

Never sign:

• A settlement agreement
  
• A property damage release
  
• A medical authorization form

...without having your lawyer review it first. These documents can give insurers access to your entire medical history or permanently close your claim.

Step 6: Watch Out for Bad Faith Practices

Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 20-461), insurance companies must handle claims fairly and in good faith. Unfortunately, many engage in tactics that violate this duty, such as:

• Delaying investigations or payments
• Denying valid claims without clear explanation
• Offering unreasonably low settlements
• Misrepresenting policy terms
• Ignoring communication

If this happens, your attorney can file a bad faith insurance claim, which may entitle you to additional compensation beyond your original damages.

Step 7: Let an Attorney Handle Negotiations

Insurance companies have teams of lawyers and adjusters protecting their interests. You deserve someone protecting yours.

At Big Auto Accident Attorneys, our team deals directly with insurers so you don’t have to. We:

• Handle all phone calls, paperwork, and evidence requests
• Calculate the full value of your medical and financial losses
• Negotiate for the maximum possible settlement
• Take the case to trial if the insurer refuses to pay fairly

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Step 8: Know the Deadlines

In Arizona, the statute of limitations for car accident claims, both injury and property damage, is two years from the date of the crash. Insurance companies know this, and sometimes delay to run out the clock. Hiring a lawyer early prevents them from using that tactic.

Why Working with Big Auto Makes a Difference

You shouldn’t have to fight your insurance company while recovering from an injury. Our car accident attorneys take over the legal and administrative burdens so you can focus on healing. We know the insurers’ tactics, and we know how to beat them.

Whether your accident involved a car, truck, motorcycle, or rideshare vehicle, we’ll ensure every responsible party pays what they owe.

Contact a Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you’re struggling with an insurance company after a crash, get help before signing anything. Call 844 BIG AUTO (844-244-2886) or visit our Phoenix office at:

Big Auto Accident Attorneys3550 N Central Ave, Suite 550
Phoenix, AZ 85012

Big injuries need big results. Let our team fight for your rights, and make sure the insurance company plays fair.

Content reviewed by managing attorney, Nic Edgson. Nic has been an Arizona-licensed lawyer for more than a decade and focuses his law practice on helping people seriously injured in car accidents and truck accidents. He has represented thousands of clients and recovered more than $50 Million Dollars fighting for their injuries and medical bills. Throughout his legal career, Nic has helped those injured through some of the most difficult times in their lives.