(Newswire.net — November 10, 2019) — When it comes to a car accident, nothing matters more than your health. But in order to properly tend to your injuries, symptoms, and care needs, you have to pay attention to the insurance side of things. The problem is that insurance companies aren’t on your side and will do everything they possibly can to reduce their payout (or even forgo responsibility altogether).
Insurance companies are at a huge advantage. Whereas this may be your first time filing a claim, this is what they do for a living. Over decades of work and thousands of claims, insurance companies have acquired a few tricks of the trade that they use to get their way. By familiarizing yourself with these tactics, you can lessen your chances of being fooled.
Every insurance company has a unique approach, but you’ll discover that they’re all pretty fond of the following tactics:
1. Pretending to be Your Friend
Claims adjustors will try to play nice, but accepting the fake friendship proposal of a claims adjustor is like trusting the head coach of a rival football team. No matter how nice the insurance company seems, they’re only doing it to exploit you and gain the upper hand.
2. Saying You Have to Provide a Statement
It’s common practice for an insurance company to pressure a victim into making an immediate statement to “speed up the claims process.” But you have no duty or obligation to provide such a statement right away.
“In reality, [claims adjustors] are highly trained and know how to be both polite and firm in suggesting a course of action to victims that will impair their ultimate right to recover,” HG.org explains. “The goal is to get a victim to admit partial fault, downplay their injuries (particularly if not all of the injuries have yet manifested), or confuse the victim as to the facts of the accident in order to undermine their claim. Often, these statements are tape recorded so they can be used late at trial, if necessary, to discredit the injury victim.”
It’s best to wait to provide a statement until after you’ve seen doctors, examined all injuries, and had time to remember all of the important details of the incident.
3. Downplaying Injuries
Insurance companies know which factors impact a claim’s value and will do everything they can to downplay the severity of injuries. They’ll even make you feel weak for mentioning certain symptoms. But once again, this is a tactic for gaining leverage.
“No two injuries are the same. People experience injuries differently,” Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. explains. “Some people may have labor jobs that require physical effort that makes the pain worse. Other people may have office jobs that are less affected by the injury. Some people will have pre-existing medical conditions that can become aggravated due to their new accident or incident. Meanwhile, other people may have perfect health prior to a collision or fall.”
As soon as you notice a claims adjustor downplaying injuries or making you feel guilty for being hurt, politely end all communications. At this point, you know they’re playing dirty.
4. Offering Fast Cash
Insurance adjustors know the power that cash has. When they know that they’re going to be in for a long and heated battle, they’ll often offer a quick cash settlement as a way of enticing the victim to move on. The problem is that these quick settlements are typically worth just a fraction of the value of the overall case (maybe 10-20 percent). You’re better off patiently waiting for the process to unfold.
5. Creeping on Social Media
Life insurance companies have been using social media as an unofficial vetting tool in their underwriting processes for a few years now. Now car insurance adjustors are discovering just how powerful it can be for finding compromising evidence. After a car accident, avoid posting images, videos, or comments on social media. Everything you say and do will be scrutinized and could be manipulated against you.
Hiring the Right Car Accident Attorney
The best thing you can do is hire a car accident attorney to help you maximize your claim. Most attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, which means their payment is dependent on how much they’re able to secure on your behalf.
When looking for a car accident attorney, go with someone who has been in practice in your community for several years and has a solid reputation. Always sit down for an initial consultation and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Choosing the right attorney is one of the most important decisions you’ll make over the next few months.