When someone is hurt in a car accident or slip and fall, they often rely on their personal injury lawyer working with the insurance to get the policy benefits they're entitled to. Unfortunately, insurance companies are for-profit entities with an interest in paying as little as possible.

 

To protect yourself and ensure that you get full benefits, it’s important to understand some of the tactics the insurance providers will use to try to get you to take less.

 

Here are five common ploys to watch out for:

• Claiming the hiring of a lawyer will lower the amount you receive — Insurance companies often try to scare people into believing that hiring a lawyer will take a big chunk out of a settlement.  They want you to believe you'll receive less.  That’s because they know they end up paying substantially more to settle a claim when a lawyer is involved. The insurance company has a vested interest in minimizing the value of a claim. Your attorney has a vested interest in maximizing that amount. Who do you want to trust?
   
• Suggesting you must give a recorded statement — For any claim made through a no-fault auto insurance policy, there is no legal requirement that you provide a recorded statement. An adjuster who tells you otherwise is lying. A recorded statement can easily be twisted to minimize or deny coverage and can provide powerful evidence in court. Although you have a duty to cooperate with them, don’t ever agree to provide a recorded statement. 
   
• Acting concerned about your injuries — Whenever an insurance adjuster asks how you’re doing, be aware that they're paying attention to everything you say. If you casually tell them you’re doing fine, or even say you’re “okay,” the adjuster may use that as evidence that your injuries are inconsequential. In addition, many injuries are not always obvious, and as a result, many people may truthfully say they feel fine - only to have complications arise after the insurance company has settled their claim. The best thing to tell an adjuster is that you are receiving medical care and will let the doctors determine the full extent of your injuries.
   
• Making a quick settlement offer — Insurance adjusters know small payouts can seem like a lot to hardworking people. Don’t be surprised if your insurance provider contacts you within days of an accident, offering an amount that’s more than you’ve ever seen at one time. It may not, however, come close to covering all your losses. The quick settlement offer is usually an attempt to cover up the full amount of your losses.  Don’t chase it.
   
• Intentional and continued delays — Many types of injuries result in the accident victim being unable to work.  The insurance adjusters know this and will intentionally delay payments to make the situation more dire.  Their goal is to put people into a financial predicament that forces them to act sooner, and take less. They may ask for years of medical records or tell you the investigation is not complete.  It’s all part of a strategy to wear you out and get you to take less.

Learn More:  https://thefernandezlawgroup.com/personal-injury-lawyers/

If you know someone who could benefit from this, feel free to forward it to them!  Not a subscriber yet? Like what you’ve read? Sign up to get future issues delivered straight to you.