How Insurance Company Trick You After a Car Accident?

If you were in a car accident recently, then you were probably recently contacted by an auto insurance firm as well. They always start by demonstrating a friendly face when they reach out to claimants. As good as they may be, note that they are a company that, like every other business, has to make an annual profit. Your best interests are not their concern, and when an auto insurance provider decides to use some sly tactics in your claim to save their bottom line at your expense, you should not be surprised.

Lowball Settlement Deals

Flinging lowball compensation deals to applicants in anticipation of one being caught is easily the most popular car insurance company strategy. A lowball settlement is an offer that after a crash has been purposely measured lower than what the claimant probably wants or deserves.

When approved, the reason insurance firms love to use lowball settlement deals is because they are permanent. No matter the number, if you sign a settlement agreement, your lawsuit closes and it is virtually impossible to reopen it. Let your auto accident lawyer check it before considering any bid and advise you what to do. The insurance companies can make you hurry into signing by claiming that for a few days the deal is only fine, but this is always untrue. Usually, real offers stand until the applicant has replied.

Demanding a recorded declaration

Did you know that after a car accident, you do not owe a written statement to someone else's insurance company? It's valid, but if you listen to the representatives of the car insurance firm, then you may not know it.

Shortly after an accident, a common strategy used by insurers is to contact a claimant to inform them that they must have a recorded statement then and there. With their terms, they probably won't be very violent, because that can scare people into hanging up. Instead, to try to convince you to say something on the record, they would use flowery and professional words.

However, why do insurers want your words on the record? To maximize your responsibility and reduce your settlement bid, they are trying to find something to misconstrue into an admission of guilt. For any possible correspondence, the safe option is to tell all insurance providers to speak to your auto accident lawyer, not yourself.

Performing the role of delaying

There are deadlines and statutes of limitations that insurance firms must meet at any step in the course of a car accident lawsuit. Auto insurance companies must admit a claim within 15 days of its initial filing, approve or refuse a claim within 40 days of receipt of proof of liability, and pay a judgment within 30 days of receipt of one.

By using every single minute of each deadline before taking action, certain insurance firms like to try to deter claimants. Even if they have resources available to handle the lawsuit quickly, they could drag their feet and leave the case sitting unfinished on their desks. About why? They want you to feel uncertain about the legitimacy of your claim and either drop it entirely or consider an offer for a lowball settlement.

The adjuster of insurance would behave like your buddy

You should expect to receive a call from the claims adjuster who represents the insurance provider if you make a claim on the insurance policy following an accident. You need to know if you are still waiting to hear from the claims adjuster-they are friendly. The adjuster for claims will show interest and ask you how you are doing. Don't be fooled; their empathy also forms part of their preparation for employees. By being sympathetic, courteous, and kind, they know that they will get more information to use against you. To minimize your compensation bid, the data you share with the claims adjuster can be used against you.

They're trying to use what you're doing against you

Do you know how they behave in a polite way to get you to make statements? A typical insurance adjuster trick is that they intend to reject or decrease how much they bid by using your comments against you. Adjusters are qualified to look for any signs of "liability admissions" or "acts inconsistent with" the statements that you made originally. If you say something that can be viewed as contradictory, it is possible that they will hold it against you. And brief discussions can be tricky with insurers. After you've made an insurance claim, you have a duty to speak to the insurance agent and comply. You should be extremely careful of communicating freely with the insurance provider of the other driver. It is better to find a lawyer to speak on your behalf if you believe you have a case. And the brightest individuals slip into the insurance industry's pits. Don't let them get you cheated out of the money you need.

See us at The West Law Firm for any legal aid. We assist in wrongful death cases, personal injury, workplace injury, nursing home abuse, and more.

** Disclaimer: The above article does not imply a relationship between attorney and client, nor is it legal advice.