Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. Whenever they have to pay a claim, that amount cuts into that profit. Their profit is what they are really looking out for and not the financial justice victims deserve. There are a number of ways insurance companies manipulate and trick victims. They will even discourage victims from consulting with our legal professionals.
Insurance Company Tactics to Know About
Your insurance company—or the other driver’s—wants you to talk to them. They want to seem like they are on your side, they’re not. To know how to fight an insurance claim, you need to know how they might be working against you.
First thing’s first, that insurance adjuster? They’ll play friendship. If you make a claim on an insurance policy after an accident, the claims adjuster that represents that company is going to call you. They are going to express concern and ask how you’re doing. Don’t let yourself be caught up in their kindness. It’s part of their employee training—they know how to get more information that they can use against you by being nice, courteous and sympathetic. The information you share with them can and will be used against your claim.
Settling your car accident claim might not be as urgent as it feels. After all, if you’re chatting with an insurance company, they may make you feel rushed. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you feel like you need to settle fast?
- Are they saying their offer is only available for a limited time?
- Are they rushing you to make a decision?
In Utah the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is four years. Insurance adjusters want you to think you have to accept an offer within weeks of your accident because they want to settle the claim and avoid litigation—a lawsuit typically forces them to offer you more money.
The insurance companies know they’re offering you a low settlement. They hope that you would rather have money now than fight them on it. Some insurance companies may even have a “deny first” strategy and what that means is they may deny your claim outright even though it’s valid. While insurers can get in trouble for using this strategy, they’ll still do it because it saves them money—especially if you’re trying to settle on your own and they’re lowballing you. They know you’ll likely take whatever they offer if they first deny you.
What You Say Can Be Used Against You to Deny Your Claim
The insurance adjuster will try contacting a victim to ask them questions. At this point, they are already aware of how the crash occurred because they have interviewed their client (the at-fault driver) and have access to police reports. They know what a victim’s injuries and damages are based on the claim the victim has filed. However, they also know how to frame a question in a way that the victim could answer in a way that would hurt their auto accident claim. This is why you should let our car accident lawyer do all the talking with the insurance company so we can help maximize your compensation.
Watch Out for Low Settlement Offers
The insurance company will try to settle your claim as quickly as possible. They will also try to settle your claim for as little as possible. Often an insurance adjuster may offer a settlement that is much less than the victim’s total losses. Many victims are unaware of all the damages they may actually be entitled to. In some cases, it may be so soon after the crash that they do not realize the long-term effect or permanent damage sustained. Our auto accident attorney can help by making sure that long term injuries are accounted for when pursuing a settlement or award. Once you settle, you cannot go back and get more compensation if you discover your injuries are worse than you originally thought. Do not accept any settlement without first speaking with our personal injury law firm and having our attorney negotiate with the adjuster on your behalf.
Utah Auto Accident Infographic
Four Ways Our Lawyer Can Help You
Being involved in an automobile accident can certainly be a traumatic experience, and if things head to the courtroom, it may be time to see our attorney. Car accidents happen every day, in every state of the country. Every case is unique, so here are a few services our personal injury attorney might be able to offer.
- Defending Against a Lawsuit
After an auto accident, one of the involved parties might decide to file a lawsuit against the other. This lawsuit is separate from the ones that take place between vehicle insurance companies. Suits can be very serious depending on the severity of the accident. Not every car accident requires hiring our attorney for legal help; however, there are collisions that benefit from the help of our personal injury attorney to make sure justice is upheld and disputes are properly resolved.
- Consulting and Explaining Legal Documents
Someone may receive a letter, registered mail, an overnight envelope, or they may be served in person explaining that a lawsuit has been filed and they are named in the case. This letter should be brought to our attorney as quickly as possible. Beginning with a free consultation, we might be able to offer guidance with interpreting legal letters and documents.
- Filing a Lawsuit Against Somebody
Unfortunately, things can get to a point where a lawsuit is required in order to resolve an issue. We can assist by helping a person file a lawsuit against an entity involved in the auto accident. From large suits against trucking companies to small suits involving a fender-bender, our personal injury lawyer is going to be the best option when looking to resolve a legal issue after a car wreck.
- Resolving a Dispute with the Insurance Company
Sometimes one’s own insurance provider can become the adversary in a legal battle. These companies are like banks filled with money and lawyers. A normal person can quickly become overwhelmed after corresponding with an insurance company’s legal team. Fight fire with fire and schedule a free consultation with our Salt Laker City, UT car accident attorney.
Why Is it Critical to Keep Accurate Records?
If you have been involved in a car accident, it is essential to keep accurate records of the crash. This is because the other driver’s insurance provider and/or any other responsible parties will collect as much data as possible that could potentially be used against your case. This can leave you at a severe disadvantage if you do not obtain the proper information during and after the incident. Important information to collect includes: police reports, witness testimonials, a report from the doctor you sought treatment from, and photographs of the scene. If you have questions about what kind of records you should gather in the wake of your crash, please ask our team.
Why Should I Take Pictures of the Accident?
If you have a smartphone or a phone with a camera function, take numerous pictures of the accident scene (if possible), as well as the injuries that you suffered. Images of the crash can be utilized as evidence during the negotiation process if your case goes to trial and can act as a striking visual for the jury and the judge.
Why Shouldn’t I Accept the First Offer that Comes My Way?
Insurance companies will use all kinds of tricks to get you to agree to a very low settlement amount. They may even try to get you to say that the accident was your fault, even if it wasn’t. If you accept the first offer from them, you’ll almost certainly be losing out on significant compensation that you’re otherwise entitled to.
It’s critical to always seek the advice of our experienced Salt Lake City, UT auto accident lawyer before you conduct any negotiations with an insurance adjuster. Our firm understands all of the tactics adjusters use to entice victims to take a lower settlement and we can fight to get you the funds you deserve.
Contact Our Salt Lake City Auto Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been in a car accident, contact Rasmussen & Miner today. The sooner you call, the sooner we can begin preserving your legal options and protecting your rights.
