Trying to win an injury claim or earn a settlement after a car accident can seem like a tall task, even though it appears that the facts of the case are in your favor. These insurance companies that you are trying to collect from didn’t become profit giants by handing out huge awards to clients, and their agents have become masters at decreasing their liability and minimizing your award potential. Oftentimes they seek to do this by exploiting certain advantages that they instinctively have over claimants. In today’s blog, we look at those four advantages, and we share some tips as to how you can avoid letting the insurance company use these tactics to decrease your claim.
Insurance Companies Will Target These Four Advantages
The insurance company will have a few inherent advantages during the claims process, but one key advantage that you have is that you know how they’ll likely work to minimize your claim, so you can be ready to counter these tactics. Here’s four advantages they’ll look to exploit:
Time – Time is on their side, and they know it. They don’t care if you get paid out next month, next year or 10 years down the road, they have the financial means that a prolonged case is not a problem to them. However, for the claimant, who may be out of a job or a car as a result of their injuries, their financial situation may take a big hit. The insurance company is hoping you’ll take a quick settlement because you may not be as financially flexible as they are. Don’t jump at a low settlement offer because you need the money. Instead, consult with a lawyer or look into other financial options if you need help for a short while until you get what you rightfully deserve from the claim.
Experience – Insurance adjusters assess claims and build cases every day. Odds are you’ve never had to build a complex injury claim in the past, and even if you have, you’re still at a significant disadvantage against someone who does it for a living. Thankfully, this is one of the easiest advantages to counter. You don’t need to try to build your case on your own, Instead, connect with a law firm that specializes in winning injury cases. We’ve fought for thousands of injured clients, and we know all of the ways to help maximize a claim award. Let us put our experience to work for you.
The Medical Report – Insurance adjusters will often try to downplay what is written in a medical report or ask that you seek out a second opinion in hopes that another doctor will see things more favorably on their end. Again, this is a good time to lean on a lawyer and ensure that you head to a specialist that you trust to give you a comprehensive independent medical exam. Don’t wait to be seen by a physician after an accident, as the insurance company may try to use this delay as a way to argue that you are not as injured as you claim to be. Lean on your lawyer to ensure that your medical report clearly conveys the full extent of your injuries.
The Appearance Of Friendship – Finally, the insurance company may try to lean on your unfamiliarity with injury claims and act as your friend. They may act like they want to get you compensation or even empathize with your situation, but it’s important to remember that they are not on your side. Similar to when you give information to a police officer during a traffic stop, anything you say can be used to build a case against you. If you admit to anything that could help their case, they will use that information against you. We’re not advocating that you lie when giving your statement, but remember that they are trying to resolve your claim with the lowest payout possible on their end. Keep your answers concise and to the point, and always remember that the only person with the same interests as you is your injury lawyer, because they get paid a percentage of your award amount, meaning the more money they get you, the more money they’ll take home. Your lawyer has a vested interest in getting you as much money as possible!
If you’re aware of these four advantages and work with a lawyer, we’re confident that the insurance company will not be able to take advantage of your situation. For more information, or for help with your injury claim, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
