State Farm is one of the largest auto insurance companies operating in Texas, but handling a State Farm car accident claim in Texas can be far more challenging than it appears. While the company has a strong reputation, dealing with its adjusters can be frustrating, especially because its approach is designed to reduce or deny car accident injury claims.
Many claimants find the process stressful because adjusters follow strict internal strategies aimed at minimizing payouts. If you were injured in an accident involving a State Farm insured, it’s important to understand your rights and consider speaking with an experienced car accident injury lawyer in Houston, TX to protect your claim and maximize your compensation.
The Other Guys Insurance Company is Not Out to be Fair
When you make an injury claim against a State Farm insured in Texas, they are not out to be fair. State Farm will go to great lengths to save money or deny a claim. The insurer has two objectives when a personal injury claim is made against its policyholder. One is to protect the insured, and the other is to pay as little as possible.
Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit, and fairness is not their primary concern. Knowing fairness isn’t part of the process can help you handle the claim. Understanding your rights and options when making a claim is vital to getting the compensation you deserve.
Recorded Statements in a State Farm Car Accident Claim in Texas
Adjusters may claim they can’t process a claim against their insured unless you give them a recorded statement. You do not have to give a recorded statement to State Farm on a claim against a 3rd party (the other driver).
You may hear many arguments on why you need to give them a statement. However, our expert Houston car accident lawyers advise against providing a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s adjuster.
Many people believe that a recorded statement will further their case, but the opposite is often true. Your words probably won’t affect the adjuster’s decision, but they can be used against you in a car accident lawsuit. Most leading Houston auto accident injury attorneys recommend avoiding recorded conversations with adjusters.
What You Say Will Not Help You and Can Be Used Against You.
Adjusters are trained in how to ask leading questions. Their training is designed to identify weaknesses they can exploit against you. Questions like “When did you first see the car?” Or “What did you do to avoid the crash?” Are they looking to gain admissions to use in denying or defending the case?
“If you are going to let the adjuster record your story, be prepared for trick questions or areas of concern.“
Some areas of Concern for Recorded Statements
- The extent of injury—It is not a good idea to state before you are sure about your injuries. Often, the adjuster reaches out immediately after the crash, before follow-up medical attention.
- Other accidents or claims – Open-ended questions about prior claims history will make you look bad.
- How the crash happened- The adjuster will be hoping for something they can use to place full or partial fault on you!
- What you told your doctors- this trick is to get you on record as having said something to the doctors. But the medical records may reflect otherwise.
Low Ball First Offers are the General Rule
Many adjusters use a “lowball” offer strategy. This negotiation strategy resets expectations about the value of your case.
The strategy is especially effective for those choosing to “represent themselves.” With the adverse insurance company. Because non-lawyers can’t realistically win a lawsuit, a jury trial tends to focus the insurer on the claim’s value. Low first offers are just one of many insurance company tricks.
The Lack of Authority Tactic
One common technique used by many adjusters is the ‘limit to authority’ approach. To indicate something like “That’s all the money I have” or “That’s the best I can do.” This technique is designed to convince you that they will pay all the money. Therefore, you will take the money and run.
As noted above, itis hard to leverage the benefits of a lawsuit without an attorney’s help.
Delay Favors State Farm
Personal injury lawyers have an old saying about insurance companies: “Delay, deny, and defend.” Delays favor the insurance companies, and the longer they can prolong the claim, the better it is for them.
They keep their money longer, but the claim gets harder to make as time goes on. Witnesses move, evidence fades, and someone without a car accident lawyer may make mistakes that hurt their case.
When to Hire a Lawyer for a State Farm Car Accident Claim in Texas
If your injuries are substantial, you almost always need an attorney. With very minor injuries, you may not need a lawyer.
The general rule is that the more severe your injuries, the more you need an attorney. If you have a preexisting injury, getting an attorney will help you deal with the issue and how the crash aggravated the condition.
Suppose the claim involves a drunk driver or a driver on drugs. Hiring an attorney may be the best approach to maximize your damages. Attorneys who handle car accident injury claims daily understand the value of these cases. They work to ensure that you maximize your damages for each case.
Hiring an Attorney Should be Done as Early as Possible After the Accident.
One mistake we frequently see is the victim trying to handle the claim themselves and seeking an attorney only after failing to negotiate with the company. In the meantime, the actions they have taken or failed to take hurt the value of their claim.
Attorneys have the advantage of filing a lawsuit. They do so when they believe the settlement offers are not reasonable. A personal injury law firm in Houston can allow a Houston jury to decide damages.
If you are hurt in a car wreck in Houston. Call Our Houston Auto Accident Attorneys at Baumgartner Law Firm for a Free Consultation.
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
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