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August 27, 2023 by Greg Baumgartner
Being in an automobile accident is stressful. Dealing with an adverse insurance adjuster can be frustrating and may harm your case if you are not careful. Here are five things the injury adjuster does not want you to know that could help your situation.
Here are five things that adverse insurance adjusters wish you did not know after an injury accident in Houston.
One trick that adjusters use to deter people from hiring a personal injury attorney is to indicate that they “accept responsibility” or acknowledge that their insured was at fault for the accident. This admission is typically made during the first or second contact with the adjuster. The effect on the victim is that they believe they can handle the case themselves without the need for an attorney.
Because the victim now believes that the insurance company has accepted responsibility, they mistakenly assume they will be paid fairly for their injuries.
This trick is especially effective because many people who need an attorney believe that they can handle the claim themselves. Only when they first discuss money with the adjuster do they learn they cannot do it alone.
Sadly, all too often, the damage to the case has been done by the victim’s failure to hire an injury attorney early in the process.
The general rule is that the more serious your injury, the more likely you are to need an attorney to obtain fair value from an insurance company. The earlier you retain an injury attorney, the better your chance for a full and fair settlement.
Many adjusters call and inform an innocent victim that they must make a statement, or the adjuster will be unable to pay compensation for the claim.
Usually, this is at this stage of the property damage claim. The accident victim feels pressure to give a recorded statement.
There are some cases where you may be obligated to give a statement, such as when you are dealing with your own insurance company. Even then, before stating your own insurance company, you should take advantage of a consultation with an auto accident attorney.
With a third-party insurance company, you are never obligated to give a statement. The easy way out is to say no and then call the best car accident lawyer near you.
Letting an adverse insurance company record you is almost always a mistake. Insurance adjusters learn how to take statements in a manner that is likely to elicit admissions from the victim.
The purpose of the statement from the adverse carrier is not to learn your side of the story or even learn of your injuries. It is to get things on the record that can undermine or hurt your case.
You can expect questions related to how the accident occurred, with an emphasis on determining your potential liability. This is true even when it’s the other person’s fault. Here are examples:
As you can see, the questions are designed to get responses that may help defend the case. Some of the questions serve no purpose other than to help in the defense of the case.
To the surprise of many, especially after being told that the insurance company is assuming responsibility for the claim, the adjuster will take issue with the medical treatment that your doctors provided to you.
You will hear things such as “We didn’t include that”, “We don’t allow that,” or similar phrases. These indicate that your medical treatment, which your doctors felt was necessary, was not satisfactory to the insurance company at this point. This method is designed to reduce what they may have to pay if you fall for it!
These statements do not necessarily mean your medical treatment was unnecessary or unreasonable. The insurance company will use whatever tactics it can to reduce or minimize the amount it must pay for the case. This is a particularly nasty approach because if you fall for it, you will be paying for medical treatment caused by the defendant’s conduct.
The best way to combat this is to hire an attorney to handle the claim for you.
The truth is that in cases of a very serious injury, such as surgery or permanent disability, a personal injury attorney is necessary to get full and fair value for your claim. The more serious the case, the more you need an attorney to help you.
Insurance companies do not get their name on huge skyscrapers by paying fair value to those who can pay less than fair value. Additionally, several issues, such as healthcare reimbursements, must be addressed to maximize a personal injury settlement for the victim.
According to the Baumgartner Law Firm, some studies indicate that individuals who hire an attorney for an injury accident typically receive more compensation than those who handle their cases independently.
With a serious injury, you need a very serious attorney to help you, and hiring one early in the process can be an important first step. One of the best reasons for hiring a personal injury lawyer is to stop an insurance company from taking advantage of you.
Choose an attorney with a track record of success in your case, not a lawyer who may occasionally handle a case like yours.
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
Since establishing Baumgartner Law Firm in 1985, Greg Baumgartner has built a reputation as one of Houston’s leading personal injury attorneys, dedicated to representing severely injured victims and families who have lost loved ones due to negligence.
Greg holds two law degrees, a distinction earned by less than 1% of all attorneys, demonstrating his exceptional legal expertise. He is also a prestigious Trial Lawyers College graduate, further enhancing his skills in trial advocacy and litigation.
His relentless commitment to legal excellence and client advocacy has earned him recognition from prestigious organizations, including Super Lawyers, the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and many others.
With decades of experience, Greg has consistently received top peer reviews. He holds a preeminent rating, a testament to his unwavering dedication to securing justice and maximum compensation for his clients.
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