Posted on November 13, 2017
With all of the car insurance commercials you see on TV, you might think that they’re all nice, friendly, and helpful folks eager to assist you after you get into a car accident. But in reality, car insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible on your claim. And they will fight to either deny, delay, or even underpay you.
Why?
It’s really quite simple: The less they pay you, the more money they make.
1. You Don’t Need to Record a Statement
In order to pay you less, adjusters will use many tactics and tricks of the trade. One of these is to claim that you must make a recorded statement about your accident.
The truth is you don’t have to. In fact, you shouldn’t.
Insurance claim adjusters are trained to ask questions to trap you and gain statements which can be used against you later. They may ask you how you’re feeling – even weeks after your car accident – and if you say things like “much better” or that you’re “fine” they may then turn around and use that against you when assessing your claim for injury losses and compensation.
Again, you are not obligated to make any recorded statements to the insurance company handling your auto claim. If the insurer insists, direct them to your attorney who can then provide police and medical records to substantiate your claim.
2. You Should Hire an Attorney
Insurance adjusters also will tell you they can settle your claim quickly and that you don’t need an attorney. But the reality is, people who hire car wreck lawyers get more money for their claims than those who don’t.
How much more? Around 2-3 times more, according to HG.org.
It’s no wonder auto insurance companies try to trick you into believing that you don’t need a lawyer.
3. Avoid ‘Team’ Adjusters at All Costs
An insurance company also may give your claim to a “team” of adjusters. Avoid these at all costs.
Why? They’re the adjusters who have the least authority to pay you money. They may try to deem your case as a minor accident and “low ball” you on your claim.
However, if you file a car accident lawsuit to gain proper payments, your claim will likely be assigned to an individual adjuster who has more authority – and can pay you more.
4. They May Intentionally Lie To You
An insurance adjuster may tell you things they know are not true. For example, they could say if you had back problems before your accident, you aren’t entitled to file a claim for a back injury. They could also tell you that you aren’t entitled to get compensation for pain and suffering, medications, lost wages from being out of work, and losing your vehicle.
5. Insurance Companies Have Their Own Doctors
Car insurance companies have their own doctors they use to try and deny claims or pay you less. These doctors will go through your medical records and try to find something that they can use against you, like, a pre-existing injury before your accident occurred.
The only way to ensure that they don’t take advantage of you is to hire an attorney.
Hire An Attorney and Protect Yourself
Unfortunately, as much as you may want to believe that your insurance company has your best interests at heart, they don’t. At the end of the day, what matters to them is money. Having an attorney by your side is the best thing for you when it comes to protecting your rights, your right to compensation, and you and your family’s interests.
If you need us, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
