Dealing with your insurance company for a claim or an issue is usually a piece of cake. Dealing with an adverse insurance company or insurance adjuster on a claim against another driver is usually a nightmare for most personal injury victims.
This article is written to give you an idea of a few of the tactics commonly used by adverse insurance company adjusters.
1. Rudeness
Probably the biggest single issue is that personal injury victims who deal with adverse insurance adjusters are often dealing with the rude attitude of the adjusters. Not all adjusters are rude; some only become rude and abrupt when the subject of actual money comes up.
2. Issues with medical treatment
Many personal injury victims are lured into false confidence when the adjuster indicates they are “accepting responsibility” and will take care of the medical when appropriate.
But as soon as the victim supplies the medical records or gives the adjuster authorization to obtain the same, they soon learn that the adjuster has some “issues” with the medical treatment.
People should know that finding issues with your medical treatment and “disallowing” some reasonable and necessary charges is just part of their game. Common complaints by the adjuster include it being too long after the accident, and it’s too much treatment, the treatment being too soon and therefore unnecessary, and on and on and on.
3. They never intended to make a fair offer.
Most personal injury victims handling the claim themselves only find out that the adjuster never intended to make a fair offer when the subject of actual compensation comes up. Then the adjuster will typically surprise the unsuspecting victim with a lowball offer that is all part of their game plan.
People are lured into believing the insurance adjuster will be fair early in the process when the adjuster suggests that they are “accepting responsibility” and assuming that they will make a fair offer. That is not part of the game plan.
Suggesting a statement is necessary for handling the claim
Many times adjusters will tell unsuspecting personal injury victims that if they do not give a recorded statement, the adjuster cannot process the claim. While adjusters always want to obtain recorded statements, most of the time, the intent is to defend the claim and not just gather necessary information.
In clear liability cases, where independent witnesses establish the liability or negligence of their driver, a recorded statement is not necessary, and we always advise victims not to give the same.
4. Suggesting no attorney is necessary.
Insurance adjusters often infer that the personal injury claimant need not contact a car wreck attorney to obtain a reasonable settlement. Some will outright say, ” You don’t need to get a lawyer,” and some will imply the lawyer will get the money that would otherwise go to the victim.
However, personal injury victims should understand that the vast majority of the time, they will get more money in their pocket by hiring a highly regarded personal injury attorney. An attorney is almost always critically important for severe personal injury or wrongful death. Likewise, if you are injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler, retaining the best 18-wheeler attorney is a good start.
Only after the person tries to handle the claim on their own do they learn that they really need a lawyer, and in some cases, they have already done damage to their claim to the benefit of the insurance company. Here are some things the insurance company does not want you to know. However, if you are determined to go it alone, read our secrets to handling your personal injury case.
5. Devaluing pain and suffering
After a car wreck or other serious accident, insurance adjusters routinely will devalue and deflate the true value of the human damages of the victim.
In some cases, the medical expenses are much greater than the suffering or disability of the personal injury victim during the recovery process. Lowballing human damages such as pain and suffering and permanent or temporary disability is a very common tactic with insurance adjusters.
6. Delay the Payout
One of the oldest tricks in the book it to delay to claim. Delay favors the insurance company. And in some cases, the delay can be fatal to the victim’s case. Personal injury cases can take some time to conclude once a lawsuit is filed. But wait too long to file your lawsuit, and the claim might be barred.
Contact The Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Baumgartner Law Firm for Help
If you have been injured in an accident in Houston, TX, and need help, contact our Houston auto accident attorney at Baumgartner Law Firm by calling (281) 587-1111.
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy
Houston, TX 77069
Related Posts:
Can I Sue My Own Auto Insurance Company in Texas?
How a Traffic Ticket Impacts an Auto Injury Case
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Texas
How to Successfully Deal With Insurance Adjusters
What to do When The Adjuster Won’t Return Your Calls
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