After sustaining a serious injury in an accident due to the negligent actions of another party, you deserve to be compensated for the harm caused to you. You can recover compensation by filing a personal injury claim. Sadly, the majority of insurance companies do not pay claims fairly, and they will give you a fight during negotiations.
As profit-driven businesses, insurers prioritize their financial interests. However, a personal injury attorney will negotiate with the insurance company of the at-fault party, ensuring you cannot be taken advantage of. You should check out this website to find the best attorney to represent you. By hiring an attorney, you get the best chance of obtaining a reasonable settlement following an injury.
What is the Insurer’s Role in Your Injury Claim?
No matter how friendly and respectful an insurance adjuster may seem, they don’t care about your situation. The adjuster is employed by the insurer, which is your case’s opposing party. Their main goal is to save their employer money when handling claims. They will convince you to accept a low settlement offer and look for information that they can use to devalue or deny your claim.
When you deal with an adjuster, always keep your guard up. They will use tricks to avoid paying the compensation you deserve.
Common Tactics Insurance Adjusters May Use
Insurance is designed to offer you peace of mind and serves as a safety net when necessary. However, when it is time to file an insurance claim, you may find yourself in a fight with your provider. The insurer may pressure you into accepting a low settlement to maximize their profit at your expense. Here are the tactics they usually use:
- Reach out to you right away. After an accident, you may get a call from the insurance company soon. When you interact with them while still dealing with the shock and pain from the accident, you may end up saying something that can be used against you or agreeing to something that impacts your claim.
- Make you believe that they care about you. An adjuster may act friendly when they approach you, so you will feel comfortable talking to them. But their intention is to get you to say things freely, hoping you say something that can be used against your claim later.
- Make low settlement offers. The adjuster knows that you need money for your expenses following an injury. So, they will offer quick settlements that seem fair. You may accept a lowball settlement offer without realizing it does not cover all your losses.
- Deny valid claims. Insurers may deny your claim, no matter how valid it is, citing unclear policy language or simple technicalities as their reason. These companies assume a lot of people don’t have the resources and knowledge to question the denial.
- Request unreasonable proof of your damages. As a claimant, you must give proof of the injuries and damages you have suffered because of the accident when you file a claim. But some insurers may request you to provide them with hard-to-find proof of damages. As a result, some claimants may decide to drop their claim due to frustration.
- Blame you for the accident. The insurance adjuster may put part or blame on you. In Des Moines, your final compensation will be decreased by your percentage of fault for the accident. By placing the blame on you, the insurer will save money on your claim. Also, they may avoid paying your claim if you are found to be more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. Thankfully, this is something the adjuster cannot successfully do if you have legal representation.
