I have discovered over the years, through my personal life and my time as a lawyer, that the majority of the public understands little about the all important insurance industry. It is, however, very important for everyone to have an understanding about this industry because it is so prevalent in our society. For instance, I carry six insurance policies each month which cover everything from my house to my employees’ workers compensation benefits, and I am required by law to carry two of them. In many states, such as California, you are required to have insurance in order to ride your motorcycle on the highways.

In any event, to this end, here are seven ideas to staying ahead of your insurance company, or a third party’s insurance company, should you encounter one:

1. INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS. Whether you’re dealing with another insurance company of a driver who dented your bike, or your own insurance company, they are not always on your side. Keep in mind that insurance companies make money by keeping the purse strings tight, and they will often times not treat you fairly in order to protect their bottom line, even though you may be a loyal customer or not at fault.
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Anyone, who has ever watched police shows on TV, knows that smart lawyers tell their clients to refuse to answer police officer’s questions. In real life, virtually all criminal defense attorneys give that same advice. Here are seven reasons why you should refuse to answer any questions from a police officer, if there is even a remote chance you might have committed a crime.

1. Any criminal lawyer will tell you that most people attempting to talk their way out of a police situation wind up confessing to a crime.

2. In my experience eighty percent of criminal defendants, viewing the police report in their case, look at quotes attributed to them and say to me: “I didn’t say that!” This may happen because the police officer misheard them, or wrote the report later and misremembered, or simply wrote down what he thought would most help the prosecution. I guarantee you that if all you say is: “I don’t want to talk without a lawyer”; then that is all the report will say. There will be no statements attributed to you, except that you wanted a lawyer.
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