If you are involved in a car accident, don't expect the insurer to take your word for it and sign your settlement check. The insurer will have to investigate the accident to confirm that your claim is genuine and that you deserve the amount you are claiming. Here are some of the ways insurers investigate accidents:

Reviewing Official Records

Some of the official records associated with an accident include the police report, medical treatment records, car repair records, and department of motor vehicle accident reports, among others. The insurer will scrutinize all these records to confirm the authenticity of your claim.

A discrepancy between the records, therefore, jeopardizes your claim. For example, your claim will be suspect if the police report mentions a head injury while the medical records don't mention it. The onus is on you to ensure that all the records are accurate and up to date.

Examining Physical Evidence

The insurer will also examine the physical evidence associated with the accident. Examples of physical evidence include damaged vehicles, damaged road signs, torn clothing, as well as pictures and videos of the crash. The physical evidence should be in sync with other forms of evidence. For example, the insurance adjuster will require more information about a windshield replacement if pictures taken after the accident don't show evidence of a cracked screen.

Talking To Witnesses

Witnesses often have crucial information that insurers find useful. Did a pedestrian see you talking on the phone just before the crash? Were you weaving in and out of lanes? Did someone see you drinking alcohol before you got onto the driver's seat? These are some of the questions that can affect the determination of liability.

Scrutinizing Social Media Accounts

Lastly, expect the insurer to descend on your social media pages in an attempt to discredit your claims. The wealth of information insurers can gather from these pages is astounding. For example, if you posted a picture of you playing hockey a few days after your accident, the insurer can claim that you weren't as hurt as you are claiming. If you assured your Facebook friends that you were okay after the accident, the insurer might take that to mean that your injuries weren't serious.

As you can see, you need to be prepared to augment your claims with relevant evidence and defend counterclaims from the insurer. It may sound easy, but it isn't, especially if it's your first time handling a car accident claim. The best thing you can do for your claim is to get an experienced car accident attorney to handle your case. 

For more information, contact a professional in your area or visit a website like http://www.tblakelaw.com.