Gary Martin Hays Warns Georgia Accident Victims: The Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend
Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Explains Why the First Call After a Wreck Should Be to a Lawyer, Not an Adjuster
DULUTH, GA — The insurance adjuster who calls after a car wreck may sound helpful, even friendly, but according to Atlanta personal injury attorney Gary Martin Hays, that call is one of the most dangerous moments in any injury claim. Gary, founding attorney of the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C., addressed the issue during his weekly legal segment on 97.1 The River, where he appears every Monday at 6:58 p.m. to answer real-world questions about car and truck accidents, wrongful death claims, and the rights of Georgia injury victims.
This most recent segment focused on why Georgia accident victims should NEVER treat the insurance company's adjuster as a neutral party, and what steps they should take immediately after a wreck to protect their claim.
What Gary Discussed In This Episode
Gary opened the segment by drawing a clear line between insurance agents and insurance adjusters. He noted that a good insurance agent can be genuinely helpful, especially when walking a policyholder through their coverage options. The adjuster who calls after a wreck is a different story entirely. That person works for the insurance company, not for the injured victim, and their job is to close the claim as quickly and cheaply as possible.
He pointed out that the friendly, familiar tone insurance companies project in their advertising — the catchy jingles, the talking mascots, the folksy spokespeople — is designed to build trust that doesn't reflect how those companies actually behave when a claim is filed. Gary put it plainly: the insurance company exists to protect its profits and its corporate bottom line. Politeness from an adjuster is a tactic, not a courtesy.
Gary then walked listeners through the most important steps to take after a wreck. The first call, he said, should be to an attorney, not to the insurance company. Giving a recorded statement before speaking with a lawyer is one of the most common and costly mistakes injured Georgians make. Signing a general medical authorization is another. Both moves hand the insurance company tools it can use to shift blame onto the victim or minimize the seriousness of their injuries. An attorney, Gary explained, can step in and shield the client from those traps before any damage is done.
The takeaway was direct: the insurance company is not your advocate, and treating it like one can permanently hurt your case.
Why This Matters for Georgia Accident Victims
Crashes involving tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles are among the most devastating and legally complex cases on Georgia roads. Unlike a standard car accident claim, a truck wreck can involve multiple liable parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, and the vehicle manufacturer. Federal regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) add another layer of legal requirements that insurers don't volunteer to explain.
Gary Martin Hays has been fighting for Georgia injury victims since 1993, and his weekly appearances on 97.1 The River are part of an ongoing commitment to make sure everyday people understand their rights before an insurance company takes advantage of them. He brings the same directness to the radio that he brings to the courtroom, cutting through legal language to give listeners practical, honest answers.
"The insurance company for the trucking company is not your friend," Gary has said. "They have lawyers working the case from day one. You need someone in your corner from day one, too."
Tune In Every Monday
Listeners can hear Gary Martin Hays on 97.1 The River every Monday at 6:58 p.m.
Injured Georgians can reach our firm 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-898-HAYS or by contacting us online. Every case is handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless we recover compensation for them.
About Gary Martin Hays & Associates
The Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C., is Georgia's Power Law Firm, with nine office locations serving metro Atlanta and surrounding communities, including Duluth, Atlanta, College Park, Conyers, Douglasville, Gainesville, Jonesboro, Lithonia, and Marietta. Gary Martin Hays began his career representing insurance companies and has spent more than 30 years using that inside knowledge to fight for injured Georgians. Our firm has recovered over $1 billion for clients across personal injury, truck accident, wrongful death, and workers' compensation cases.
Gary is co-creator and legal producer of the nationally syndicated television program Personal Injury Court, has been featured on CNN, HLN, FOX News, CBS, ABC, and NBC, and has authored multiple books for injury victims, including The Authority on Tractor-Trailer Wreck Claims in Georgia.
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