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If you have been in an accident and you haven’t been at fault, you can expect to hear from the insurance adjuster of the at-fault driver soon. The thing to know right off the bat is that the insurance company doesn’t have your best interest at heart.
It is important to mention here that you should be mindful of some of the dirty tricks that the at-fault driver’s insurance company might play with you so they don’t have to pay you anything or the least amount.
Trick #1: Settle Quickly
The number one dirty trick that insurance companies typically play is that they try to settle very quickly. Now, it is clear that someone else was involved in the accident, and there is a policy that demands that the acts be covered.
So, what the insurance company will try to do is to try and settle for the least amount, which is actually pennies for dollars.
Typically, insurance companies use a computer algorithm to distort the final settlement value for the total damage. What this means is that instead of offering you the most comparable value for the damage – they will offer you the least comparable value. There is a lot of data to analyze that goes into assessing the value of the damage, which you might not notice, but the insurance adjuster knows.
The rushing serves the purpose of making you accept an amount that is apparently “sufficient,” except that it isn’t.
On that note, if you have been injured in an accident, you must keep in mind that the insurance company will reach out to you and sort of rush you into settling for a minimum amount. Don’t fall for this trick – no matter how polite and sincere the insurance company agent sounds – they are not on your side.
Solution: Hire A Lawyer Right Away
To protect your rights, make sure you are represented by an attorney who understands the tactics of the insurance company. Usually, what happens when you settle early on is that the amount you receive or agree to doesn’t cover any of the medical treatments necessary for you, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.
There are many factors that unravel with time if you get injured in an accident. At first, you might not even notice how serious the injuries are. So, never fall for the trick of accepting the first offer coming your way. Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer, and let the legal expert negotiate on your behalf.
Trick #2: Prevent You From Seeing A Doctor
Yes, you read this right. The insurance adjuster, with no medical training, might actually suggest that you don’t need medical treatment for your injuries and try to persuade you to not see a doctor. They might also prevent you from speaking to an attorney.
The underlying reason why they might do this is because they don’t want to pay you the full amount that you are entitled to. They know that when you talk to an attorney or a doctor, it can ruin their case for them as they will be trying to settle for the least amount of compensation – all the time protecting their interests.
Remember that it is your right to seek medical treatment for your injuries, and no one should be able to dictate your course of action. On that note, keep a record of all your medical bills so your lawyer can help you reach a fair settlement.
The Solution: Talk to A Doctor and Attorney
There is actually a benefit for you when you talk to a doctor or attorney, as you will learn that there are many important aspects that the insurance company didn’t address at the time of contacting you. Apparently, you might have gotten away with a few surface injuries alone or damage to the car – but upon seeing a doctor, you will actually realize that you have sustained serious injuries.
By talking to an attorney, you will learn that you deserve so much more compensation money than the amount the insurance company quoted to you.
Trick #3: Don’t Tell the Actual Value of the Policy
Another common dirty trick that insurance companies play with people who have suffered an injury due to an accident is that they won’t tell the actual value of the policy that is in play for the particular car accident.
It is incredibly important to know the value of the policy so that you know the amount of medical treatment that you can receive and get covered by the policy. You also have the right to know what your personal recovery might be for your pain and suffering, lost wages, etc.
The insurance company won’t tell you the value of the policy intentionally, so you will stay oblivious to what might actually be recoverable in your case. We cannot stress enough the importance of the fact that this piece of information is something that you absolutely must know in a personal injury case.
Trick #4: They Will Stall Out the Case
Yes, you read this right. Insurance companies can actually go to any lengths to save money and protect their personal interests. On that note, they might go to the extent of playing this dirty trick on you where they might stall out the case – even without telling you.
They will keep you in the dark and not tell you that the investigation on your case has been finalized and that they have made a determination. It is important to mention here that just because the insurance company delays or stalls your case – it doesn’t mean that you have lost control over the case.
The Solution: Let A Lawyer Negotiate on Your Behalf
You cannot allow an insurance company to dictate the course and pace of your personal injury case. The best thing you can do is to get a personal injury lawyer on board as soon as possible. If you are too injured to make the call, ask a loved one or a trustworthy person to call a personal injury lawyer on your behalf and get them on board quickly.
Rest assured; the personal injury lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf as a way to ensure that you don’t fall victim to their dirty tricks. Also, if the need arises and a fair settlement cannot be reached, the lawyer will take things to court.
