What should I do if the insurance company offers me a check right away?

My first response to that, is do not sign anything, take any compensation, or do anything until you’ve fully investigated your damages. I find that people involved in auto accidents oftentimes don’t feel the full impact for 72 hours after the wreck, so you can’t possibly know what your claim is worth until some time has passed.

My advice would be if an insurance company is offering you a check immediately to consult with an attorney and allow them to start an immediate investigation, and find out what the full value of your claim is worth before you accept anything, or before you sign anything.