Don’t Let the Insurance Adjuster Pressure You Into Settling Your Case
As you’re settling your insurance claim, you’ll want to know how to achieve a favorable outcome. Here’s another secret to settling your car accident injury claim that insurance companies don’t want you to know: don’t let the insurance adjuster pressure you into settling your case.
Insurance adjusters often must deal with small reserve accounts, so they have to keep settlements low. This means they will pressure you to settle for a low offer—an offer that likely won’t cover all your costs.
Even though you may pay your premiums on time, the insurance company is not looking out for you. They are not your friend. They want to settle for as little as possible, and they will engage in numerous tactics to do so. Some ask open-ended questions to get details about the case, in hopes that you’ll admit guilt along the way.
There are other tactics insurance companies will do to put the pressure on you. Be aware of these tricks
Low Offers
In negotiations, the person who has to pay up certainly isn’t going to start on the high end. The same goes for insurance companies. Expect a lowball offer, but resist the urge to take it. Insurance companies know that you are vulnerable and want to settle quickly to get the incident over with.
Don’t give in to the offer. There are calculators online that can help you value your case. You can also employ the services of a personal injury attorney who can assess your case and inform you of your accident’s true worth. You can then use this number to negotiate.
Stalling
Stalling is another common tactic used by insurance companies. They stall in an effort to wear you down and get you to succumb to the pressure. Insurance companies accomplish this through various ways. The adjuster may claim to lose your paperwork. You may get transferred to other departments. They may refuse to answer your calls.
The insurance company wants you to get frustrated and simply accept the offer. Don’t fall for this trick. Instead, be aggressive. You may need to hire an attorney who can make the calls and get the insurance company to move forward.
Refusal to Pay Medical Bills
Insurance companies may refuse to pay for your medical bills. They may claim that you are trying to defraud them by exaggerating your injuries. They will claim that the injuries already existed and were not caused by the accident.
If you didn’t seek medical help immediately following an accident, the insurance adjuster will claim that you must not have been truly injured. If you discover a new medical condition weeks later, the insurance company will accuse you of lying and fraud.
In this case, it is wise to get an attorney involved. A personal injury lawyer can defend your claim and help you receive the compensation you deserve for the damages you suffered in your accident. Indeed, an attorney can act as a strong advocate throughout each step of the car accident claims process.
Read about the other secrets:
- Conduct a complete investigation.
- Get photographs of all important elements in your case.
- Don’t release your medical records to the other party’s insurance company.
- Get the insurance company to set up a high reserve account.
- Keep the adjuster informed about the seriousness of your injuries.
- Don’t let the insurance adjuster pressure you into settling your case.
- Keep a day-by-day diary of your injuries.
- Know all your damages.
- Keep all bills and receipts related to your accident.
- Know all your injuries.
- Know your sources for insurance coverage.
- Stay under your doctor’s care until your doctor releases you.
- File your lawsuit right away.
- Ask a qualified trial lawyer to evaluate your case.
- If you decide to hire a lawyer, choose a trial attorney who isn’t afraid to go to court.