How Insurance Companies Try to Minimize Your Compensation

Accident Victims Should Understand That Insurance Companies Do Not Have Their Best Interests in Mind

Being injured in a car accident can be one of the most stressful and confusing periods of a person’s life. Accident victims often expect insurance providers to offer them fair compensation for their injuries. But the fact of the matter is that insurance providers have a very different set of financial incentives than helping victims to the greatest extent possible. There are a number of tactics that insurance providers use in order to minimize the compensation that they pay out.

1. Offering a Quick, Low-Value Settlement

It is common for insurance providers to reach out to accident victims shortly after an accident. In many situations, they may try to contact people the same day that they were involved in a crash. They will offer quick settlements, but these offers virtually never take into consideration the actual value of a case. People often have medical bills and expenses long into the future after an accident takes place. You should never accept a settlement offer without at least speaking to an attorney first.

2. Downplaying Injuries

Insurance adjusters will do everything in their power to question the severity and extent of your injuries. They may try to claim that your injuries are minor. Another common tactic that they use is looking through your medical history. It’s possible that they blame your injuries on pre-existing conditions.

In other words, they will argue that the injuries you are experiencing are not the result of the accident in question. They were the result of something else that you went through in the past, and therefore they are not responsible. Adjusters may suggest that you are exaggerating the severity of your symptoms or pain.

3. Delaying the Claims Process

When accident victims do not accept early, low-value settlements, it is common for insurance adjusters to do everything in their power to stall communications. What they want is for you to grow impatient and desperate while waiting for money to cover your bills. This can leave you more likely to settle a claim purely out of desperation.

In order to avoid the unnecessary hurdles that insurance companies create, it is always best to consider working with an experienced car accident attorney. They can help cut down on the delay tactics insurance providers use and take steps to settle your claim in a more reasonable timeframe.

4. Using Your Own Words Against You

Insurance adjusters are trained to gather a recorded statement from you. They want to use your own words against you to minimize your injuries or to try to shift blame. For example, if you say that you feel alright after an accident, they may then claim that you were exaggerating your injuries at a later time if you experience more pain.

The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of a person’s injuries, pain, and physical symptoms are not immediately obvious shortly after an accident. This is why it is so important for accident victims to seek a thorough medical evaluation. If you need to make a statement to an insurance provider, it is always best to do this under the guidance of an experienced attorney.

5. Shifting Liability for a Collision

Another common tactic that insurance providers use is to claim that you were either fully or partially at fault for a collision. If you were fully at fault for a collision, they will have to pay nothing. But even if you were partially at fault for a collision, this can reduce the financial burden that they have to pay in the event of a proposed settlement.

Be mindful that insurance companies will view all of your actions, statements, and even posts on social media. It is best to say as little as possible in the aftermath of an accident. This includes avoiding saying things like “I’m sorry.” Though this is a polite gesture, insurance companies may try to twist it in order to imply that you were admitting fault for what happened.

Getting Legal Help After an Injury

If you were injured in any type of accident, one of the best methods that you can use to protect your medical and financial well-being is to speak with an attorney early on. Our attorneys at GLK Law are here to help you. We can take steps to help preserve your rights.

We can make sure that you are not being taken advantage of by insurance providers who are looking to do everything in their power to minimize claim values. There are absolutely no upfront costs to hire our legal team. Instead, we get paid entirely from the opposing party if we are able to resolve your case. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.