Despite advertising that says otherwise, insurance companies are not on your side. They are businesses that operate for profit. The person hired to process your claim, called the insurance claims adjuster, is trained to use many tactics to save the insurance company as much money as possible on your payout. Recognizing these strategies can help you protect yourself. The most effective way to protect yourself and achieve a fair settlement is by hiring a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio to represent you
Asking for a Recorded Statement
At the beginning of your insurance claim, the claims adjuster will ask you to give a recorded statement over the phone. You must decline this request. It is a tactic commonly used to record a claimant saying something that could be used to undermine the claim later, such as preliminary information about an injury that ends up changing after the victim has seen a doctor. The insurance company can then use the statement to assert that you are an unreliable witness.
Making a Fast Settlement Offer
If the insurance company knows its policyholder is at fault for your injuries, it may quickly offer a settlement to try to resolve the case. The claims adjuster will exploit the fact that you are facing expensive medical bills and want to achieve a settlement as soon as possible. It is important not to rush to accept the first offer, as it is most likely less than you deserve.
Insurance companies know that most claimants do not realize they have the right to negotiate for a higher settlement by submitting counteroffers or taking the personal injury case to court. You can protect yourself by waiting to accept a settlement offer until after you have brought it to a lawyer for review.
Drawing Out the Investigation
Unnecessary delays are another common tactic used by insurance claims adjusters to avoid paying claimants. The adjuster may draw out the investigative process, for example, or delay the payout of a claim that has already been settled. These tactics are used in the hopes that a claimant will give up and drop the case or accept a lowball offer to finish the claim.
Minimizing Your Injuries
The adjuster may downplay the seriousness of your injuries or suggest they were pre-existing and not related to the accident at all. By minimizing your injuries, the adjuster can offer a lower settlement. It is important to keep thorough medical records documenting your injuries and all related medical care and bills.
Refuting Liability
The insurance adjuster may try to allege that its policyholder is not to blame for your accident or injury. The insurer may try to shift the blame to someone else, for example, including you. The adjuster may question your version of events or request unnecessary amounts of evidence before it will accept liability. It may also wrongfully reject a valid claim.
You Don’t Have to Deal With an Insurance Claim Adjuster Alone
During your insurance claim, the adjuster assigned to your case may try to blame you for the accident, dispute liability, access your social media accounts, undervalue your losses and use many other tactics to minimize your payout. Contact Hill Law Firm Accident and Injury Lawyers to speak to an experienced lawyer about your claim.