The Different Tactics an Insurance Company Will Use to Lowball an Accident Victim

Every accident victim is entitled to claim fair compensation. If you decide to get fair compensation, then you may have to deal with the insurance firm or insurance adjusters. However, getting a fair settlement from the insurance firm is not an easy task.

Insurance firms are for-profit organizations. They will use several tactics to lowball accident victims. By hiring an experienced personal injury attorney, accident victims can avoid getting lowballed by insurance companies and acquire the compensation they deserve.

Here are some of the different techniques that insurance adjusters may use to reduce your claim value or reject it altogether.

Delaying or Dragging Out the Process

After an accident, you will be facing financial difficulties due to your medical expenses and loss of income. Insurance companies may use this to their advantage by dragging out or delaying your personal injury claim process for as long as possible.

Most often, they may make excuses in emails and calls. They may also request unnecessary details or documents, make lowball offers, or reject your personal injury claim without any valid reason. Their hope is that you will become desperate and frustrated enough to agree to a low settlement or give up on your personal injury claim altogether.

To overcome this tactic, you need to be patient, and at the same time, you also have to be persistent with the insurance firm and follow up regularly on your personal injury claim status.

Denying or Limiting Liability

Usually, the insurance firm will investigate your personal injury accident and find out who was the negligent party. If they can identify any argument or evidence that you were partially or completely responsible for your accident, they will use it to reduce or deny your personal injury claim.

For instance, they may blame you because you were intoxicated, distracted, speeding, or violating a traffic law at the time of the accident. Moreover, they may try to put the blame on a third party, such as a manufacturer, another driver, or a government entity.

To overcome this tactic, you should collect the right evidence to prove the responsibility of the negligent party. Also, you should consult with a personal injury attorney who can support you in filing your case and negotiate with the insurance firm for you.

Belittling Your Injuries

Another common trick that the insurance company may use is to downplay the extent and effects of your injuries. They may argue that your personal injuries are not as severe as you claim, that they were unrelated or pre-existing to the accident, or that they do not need any medical treatment.

Moreover, they may try to pressure you into agreeing to a quick settlement before you know the complete severity of your injuries and future medical care needs.

In order to combat this tactic, you must get medical attention immediately after the accident, and it is also important to follow the recommendations of your doctor. Also, you must maintain a detailed record of your symptoms, medications, treatments, and recovery status.

Keep in mind that you have to wait until you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) before accepting any settlement offer.

Using Your Statements Against You

Insurance firms are trained to get information and particular details from you that can be used to weaken your claim. They may reach you immediately after the collisions and ask you a few questions about what injuries you may have suffered, how the accident occurred, and how they are impacting your life.

Moreover, they may ask you to sign a release form or give a recorded statement that allows them access to your medical records and other personal details.

Whereas they may seem sympathetic and friendly, their goal is to get you to say something that can be used against you later.

In order to avoid this tactic, you must be very careful about what you say to the insurance firm and never apologize or admit fault for the accident. Without reviewing them with your lawyer first, you should decline to sign any documents or give any recorded statements.

Final Thoughts

Keep in mind that insurance firms are not on your side after an accident. They will use different tactics to pay you less than the actual losses. Hope this blog post helped you become aware of these different tactics and how to deal with them.

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