Insurance companies are in the business of making money, which inherently puts them at odds with auto accident victims seeking compensation for their injuries and damages. While state laws require drivers to carry at least minimum auto insurance coverage to pay for costs from accidents, collecting on those policies is rarely a simple, straightforward process.
Insurance Companies Offer Quick Settlements to Save Money
One of the most common tactics used by car insurance companies is to quickly offer accident victims a settlement, often shortly after the incident occurs. This strategy preys on victims who are worried about mounting medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost wages from work, and other accident-related expenses.
The swift settlement offers give the illusion that the insurance company aims to alleviate the victim’s financial stresses. In reality, insurers make these offers to save themselves money, betting that an expedited settlement will prevent victims from realizing their cases could be worth much more. Once victims accept a settlement, they forfeit all rights to any further compensation.
Insurers Record Victim Statements to Use Against Them
Another money-saving approach used by insurance companies involves recorded statements. After an accident, it’s common for an insurance claims adjuster to contact the victim and request permission to record their statement.
The adjuster often implies that this recorded account is a mandatory step in the process. However, accident victims are not required to provide official recorded statements. Without legal counsel, they can easily be misguided by crafty adjusters into relinquishing information that harms their cases.
Insurers use victims’ recorded statements to try to discredit or minimize their claims. They analyze the recordings for inconsistencies or information that supports reducing or denying compensation. Had victims deferred requests for statements to legal representation, they may have avoided this tactic altogether.
Delays Force Victims Into Lowball Offers
Even when accident victims promptly file insurance claims, companies employ delay tactics as another means to increase profits. They intentionally slow the resolution process in the hopes victims will become exhausted.
The longer the delays, the more willing victims become to accept unreasonably low settlement offers in order to receive any compensation at all. This unethical stalling algorithm preys on victims in vulnerable states who need funds to cover mounting expenses.
Insurers Exploit Medical Histories
Insurance companies request medical information pertaining to accident injuries to assess claims. However, they often ask for unrelated records from before the incidents as well.
By obtaining victims’ past medical histories, insurers try to find excuses to deny or reduce compensation offers. Preexisting conditions or previous issues can jeopardize cases regardless of actual fault or liability relating to the accidents.
How Accident Victims Can Protect Themselves
While insurance companies’ tactics largely benefit their bottom lines at victims’ expense, the latter group does have recourse options. The best way for accident victims to arm themselves is by retaining experienced personal injury lawyers to act as advocates throughout claim processes.
Lawyers Serve as Buffers and Negotiators
Seasoned attorneys familiar with insurers’ money-saving tricks can provide buffer between victims and exploitative adjusters. They field communication, denying inappropriate requests for recorded statements and medical documents unrelated to accidents.
Additionally, lawyers investigate accidents and build victims’ cases to back up proper compensation amounts. They negotiate vigorously on victims’ behalves to reach equitable settlements, prepared to take uncooperative insurers to court if warranted.
Legal Guidance Prevents Rushed Decisions
By providing counsel, personal injury lawyers help victims avoid rash decisions when insurers dangle early settlement agreements. Attorneys ensure clients fully understand legal rights regarding seeking current and future accident-related compensation from at-fault drivers’ insurers.
Ultimately, knowledgeable personal injury lawyers serve as victims’ champions, equipping them to overcome insurance companies’ profit-driven tactics. Securing proper representation after accidents helps victims emerge with maximal restitution and the best chances for healthy financial and personal recoveries.
Conclusion
When insurance companies make money, accident victims lose. To level the playing field, injury victims must seek knowledgeable legal guidance. Personal injury lawyers help victims navigate claim processes to overcome insurers’ opportunistic tactics aimed at minimizing or avoiding paying fair compensation.
With attorneys protecting their interests, accident victims gain empowerment against insurance companies’ manipulation attempts. They can reject premature lowball settlement offers, deny inappropriate requests for information, and actively build cases positioning them to receive full entitled compensation.
Knowledge and preparation are victims’ best weapons when battling insurers’ profit-driven motives. With personal injury lawyers handling claims processes, victims finally have advocates fighting for their rights to emerge as financially and personally whole as possible.