Personal Injury Car Accident
December 7, 2021 | Personal injury
It can be devastating and even stressful to be involved in a car accident. While the stress of dealing with your injuries and the financial strain they may seem like too much, it is nothing compared to having to deal with an insurance company that is seeking to deny or reduce your claim for compensation.
Insurance companies can in fact become very aggressive when you file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for injuries you suffered in a car accident. Like other businesses, they will want to avoid a loss by any means. This includes reducing what they pay as compensation or completely denying your claim.
Common tactics used by insurance companies
Insurance companies have been known to apply various tactics in an effort to reduce or completely deny insurance claim after car accidents. Below are some common tactics you should be on the lookout for.
- Pushing you to admit fault
If the insurance company can show that you were to blame or were partially to blame for the accident, they can get away with paying you less or not paying you any compensation for your injuries.
- Get you to record a statement about the accident
Insurance adjusters may ask you to write and sign a full and final statement about the accident. They may say things like the insurance company will process payments faster if you agree to sign the statement. However, signing the statement will prevent you from pursuing legal action in the future. The insurance company may also do this to avoid paying a large sum in compensation. You will be signing away your right to just compensation.
- Get you to sign a medical release form
A medical release form documents the extent of your injury. Both you and the insurance company will have received copies of medical records that are relevant to the case. The insurance adjuster may attempt to get you to sign a medical release form in order to access other medical records that were not included with the copies sent to them. They may do this to find a way to reduce or deny your claim. For example, if they uncover a previous and similar injury in your medical records, they may claim that your current injury was not in fact caused by the accident but was instead a preexisting one.
Dealing with insurance adjusters on your own can lead to a sticky situation. Get in touch with us and book an appointment to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney. They will guide you on what you should and shouldn’t do to improve your chances of success in filing a claim after an accident.
What to do When You’re Approached by An Insurance Adjuster
Everything you say and do after a car accident can either make or break your claim. You should be especially careful when approached by an insurance adjuster. Here’s what to do when an insurance adjuster comes knocking:
- Remain calm
Have you been contacted by an insurance adjuster? This isn’t a bad thing. This is in fact is their job. They will try to contact you as quickly as possible following an accident to try and get you to settle for less than you ought to. Don’t fly into a panic when they contact you. You should instead remain calm and refer them to your attorney.
- Do not admit fault
One of the worst mistakes you can make when talking to an insurance adjuster is to admit that you are to blame even partially for the accident. Insurance adjusters are hoping that you can admit to bearing fault or partial fault to the accident. If they can show you were partially to blame, they won’t have to pay as much in compensation.
- Do not discuss your injuries or health
Insurance adjusters may seem friendly and sympathetic but make no mistake, their loyalties lie with the insurance company they work for. Everything you say will be used against you. This includes what you say about your health of injuries. You should therefore avoid talking about your injuries or health. Seemingly innocent statements such as ‘I’m doing fine’, could result in a reduction in your compensation.
- Lawyer up
Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer is probably one of the best things you can do for your claim. A knowledgeable lawyer will help to relieve the stress that the claims process brings. They will handle all aspects of seeking compensation from filing your claim to communicating with the insurance company. An attorney will know how to approach the insurance company. They will advise you on what you should and should not do after the car accident. They will help to improve your chances of obtaining just compensation for your injuries and damages.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, get in touch with us. Book an appointment to speak to a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney. We’ll fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Call us at 402-933-3345
Personal Injury Car Accident