The Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend - How to Protect Yourself After a Car Accident

The Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend - How to Protect Yourself After a Car Accident

December 26, 2025

By: R. Scott Fahrney, Esq., December 26, 2025

After a car accident, many individuals believe that their insurance company will act in their best interests. However, it's crucial to understand that insurance companies are businesses primarily focused on minimizing payouts and maximizing profits. Recognizing this reality can help you take the necessary steps to protect your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation.

Why the Insurance Company Isn’t on Your Side

After a crash, people often assume “my insurance company will take care of it.” In reality, insurers make money by paying as little as possible on claims. Common tactics include:

• Lowball, quick offers. Early settlement checks are often far below the true value of your case, especially before your medical treatment is complete.
• Pushing recorded statements. Adjusters try to lock you into statements that can later be used to argue you weren’t really hurt or were partly at fault.
• Delay and pressure. Slow-walking your claim can push you to accept less because you’re stressed, out of work, or facing medical bills.

 

Steps to Protect Yourself After a Car Accident

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in New Jersey, you can help protect your claim by:

1. Talking to an attorney first. Before giving detailed information to any insurance company (even your own), get legal advice so you don’t accidentally harm your claim.
2. Being cautious with statements.
  • Politely decline recorded statements until you’ve spoken with counsel.
  • Stick to basic facts only (date, time, location) if you must report the crash immediately.
3. Documenting everything.
  • Save medical records, bills, pay stubs, repair estimates, and photos of the scene and your injuries.
  • Keep a log of pain, limitations, and missed work.
  • Note every call with the insurance company (date, time, who you spoke with, and what was said).

4. Reviewing your policy. Understanding your coverages (PIP, bodily injury liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist) helps you know what benefits you are entitled to under New Jersey law.

 

How Semeraro & Fahrney, LLC Can Help

Early legal guidance after a car accident can help you protect your health, your finances, and any potential personal injury claim. If you were involved in a crash and are unsure how to deal with the insurance company, contact the personal injury attorneys at Semeraro & Fahrney, LLC for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

Our firm can step in and deal with the insurance company for you so you can focus on healing.We regularly assist clients with:

• Case evaluation. Reviewing the crash, your injuries, and insurance coverages to estimate the value of your claim.
• Handling the adjuster. Communicating with the insurance company, responding to requests, and pushing back against unfair tactics.
• Negotiating settlements. Working to secure compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
• Litigation if needed. Filing suit and representing you in court when the insurer won’t make a fair offer.

Request a free consultation today:

Email:  info@semerarolaw.com
Phone:  (973) 988-5070
Contact

 ---

Attorney Advertising. For informational purposes only; not legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Written by Semeraro & Fahrney, LLC, Wayne, NJ. Last updated November 2025.