After a car accident, recovery is not an easy undertaking. You might require expensive, ongoing therapy after a serious injury that wasn’t your fault and be out of work for a while. And if that weren’t stressful enough, you’ll probably get a call from the insurance provider for the other driver. You might be surprised to find that the adjuster sent by the insurance company is soothing, polite, and anxious to put you at ease and make you feel comfortable when you first meet with them to find out what happened.
They will make the claim that they wish to assist you and see that you receive the payment you are due. You could be tempted to listen to what they have to say if you’re calculating the expense of fixing your car and paying your medical bills in your head. Unfortunately, insurance firms use this well-known strategy to win you over, but their ultimate objective is much more cunning.
The Workings of Insurance Companies
Insurance firms are for-profit organizations. They make more money on their premiums the fewer accident claims they have to pay out. So it should come as no surprise that an adjuster will try their best to convince you to accept a settlement. They frequently claim that accepting their offer is in your best interest and would help you avoid unnecessary time and frustration. The truth is that they want to settle for the least amount feasible in order to prevent you from suing them or negotiating a bigger settlement because bigger payouts would hurt their bottom line.
The Dubious Practices Continue after that
In order to obtain a statement, they can later use against them, adjusters frequently go after vehicle accident victims as soon as possible after the accident when they are most susceptible. For instance, they can attempt to convince you that the accident was your responsibility in order to reduce your compensation or deny your claim outright.
In certain circumstances, insurance companies will purposefully put off processing your claim because they anticipate that you may be in excruciating pain and finding it difficult to make ends meet while you’re off work. They want to place you in a predicament where you could be tempted to accept a settlement that is much lower than what you are legally entitled to. In order to review your medical history, an insurance company may also get you to sign a medical release form. The insurance may contend that if your records indicate you have a condition, it impaired your ability to drive and caused your accident.
What Might you do in Response?
Being contacted by an insurance provider might be annoying. Thankfully, there are measures you may take to prevent the anxiety of dealing with an adjuster when they inevitably start asking questions. The wisest course of action if the insurance company of the other driver calls you following the collision is to remain silent. They might try to persuade you to give them your version of events, but you are under no compulsion to do so.
One thing to keep in mind when speaking with an insurance representative: your words count. The outcome of your claim could be negatively impacted by the smallest hesitation or incorrect word choice.
Be careful not to assign blame or minimize your injury. Based on its first investigation of the accident and your injuries, the insurance company will set aside a reserve sum while processing your claim. It can be challenging to grow this reserve and, as a result, receive more compensation if you make a statement about your injury and it later worsens or if you fail to reveal the entire nature of your injuries.
When discussing your accident online, such as on social media, you should also use caution. Insurance companies frequently search through your social media accounts for information they can use against you. This includes posts that claim you’ve totally recovered because you’re shown grinning with pals or even a statement made in public claiming to be feeling fine. Even though you may be inclined to hide your agony and put on a front to appear as though you’re not in pain, an insurance company can easily use this against you.
Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer
An important ally in submitting your compensation claim following an accident is a personal injury lawyer, who can also speak with insurance companies on your behalf. A committed Abogado De Accidentes Long Island will be familiar with how to handle the occasionally shady strategies insurance companies use to get you to accept a poor offer. They will manage all communication for you so that you don’t have to worry about being pushed or saying something they’ll use against you. They will not only negotiate a reasonable settlement and take your case to trial if you choose to.
Consider a scenario in which you are worried about the insurance company stalling your claim and depend on the settlement to cover your medical expenses. A personal injury attorney will then assist you in delaying payment until your claim is successful. If the insurance provider for the other motorist has already spoken with you and provided you with documentation to sign, you want to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer right away.
You should always consult with a lawyer before signing any of these agreements since they can ask you to forgo your rights or consent to a settlement. If you don’t, it can be difficult for you to obtain the entire amount of compensation you are due. In the worst case scenario, accepting an improper settlement offer would absolve the other party of all responsibility and bar you from pursuing additional compensation.
Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging, but if you know what to do, you can settle your claim on your terms and receive the amount you are due.
