Sometimes, negotiating with an insurance company can be tricky.  You need to keep you head on your shoulders and remember that the insurance company is in business, they’re there to make money, not to make friends.  If you adopt the same attitude, you’ll be much less likely to be taken advantage of.  Here’s a few things that you should absolutely not do during your accident settlement negotiations.

First, never agree to an auto accident settlement that’s made immediately or on the spot.  Most insurers will want you to settle faster if possible because it gives you less time to really assess the damages you’ve suffered or talk to a lawyer.  It’s an easy way to pay you less money than you deserve.  Some people may even be enticed because they can pay all their medical bills up front without having to worry about it, but in the long run if you don’t get your damage estimates right, you’ll end up paying the remainder of your bills out of your pocket.

Second, make sure that you don’t admit fault in the accident.  Most people are aware of this and won’t directly admit fault, but you can indirectly admit fault with some of your language.  Instead of saying you were in an accident when the company first calls you, instead say you were hit by the insurance company’s client.  This places the blame squarely on him and not on you.

Finally, don’t estimate any of the damages that you’ve had to date until you’ve had time to tally them all together.  You won’t know exactly how much it costs to repair your car or to completely heal your body until its all done.  Complications can arise at any time.  So don’t set a ceiling with the insure by giving them an estimate of your damages before your ready.  This can result in a much lower settlement than if you told them the right amount when you finally knew it.