Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements
Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements
Pulling Back The Curtain on Tactics Used By Insurance Companies to Reduce Settlements
We've all been there, an auto accident, slip & fall, or another personal injury, all you want is fair compensation from your insurance company. Unfortunately for accident victims, insurance companies fight personal injury claims to avoid paying money. It’s critical to be prepared before discussing your case with an insurance adjuster In a recent article Phoenix personal injury lawyers pulled back the curtain on the tactics used by insurance companies to reduce the payout to settle claims. Before you discuss your claim with any insurance company, claims adjuster, or agent, you should be aware of the tricks insurance companies use to fight your personal injury claim and lower their payout. Some of the most common tactics are:
1. Blame the Victim
This is a common tactic. Don’t be surprised if the insurance claims adjuster attempts to shift the blame for the accident to you. Blaming the victim is a common tactic to avoid liability for a car accident or another personal injury. If the insurance company can convince a jury that you were partially, or completely, at fault, your compensation can be reduced by a proportionate amount. If your insurance company tries to claim you are at fault, hire a personal injury lawyer to represent your case.
2. Deny Claims Due To Delayed Medical Care
Prompt medical care is essential for your personal injury claim. Document any injuries or symptoms with a doctor for your claim. If you do not seek prompt medical care, the insurance company may argue the accident did not cause your injury.
3. Drag Out A Case
Delaying the case is also a common tactic. The insurance company knows you need the money, so delays put pressure on you for a quick settlement. The insurance company may also delay the case to create a statute of limitation defense. For most cases, the statute of limitations on personal injury is 2 years. There are exceptions to the statute of limitations that may increase or decrease the time to file a claim. a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to avoid a problem.
4. Requiring Written Statements
A claims adjuster may ask you to provide a written or recorded statement to process your claim. This tactic is used to obtain information to use against you to undervalue the claim. Phone conversations with your insurance company are often recorded whether they tell you or not. Anything you say can be used to hurt your claim. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters. Adjusters work to protect the insurance company’s interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is not in your interest to provide a written or recorded statement without talking to a personal injury lawyer.
5. Asking You For Access to Your Medical Records
Another common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that can be used to lower the value of your claim. The adjuster may tell you to verify your injuries the insurance company needs copies of your medical records. It is very likely that the insurance company will obtain copies of your full medical history to search for prior injuries and argue that pre-existing conditions are responsible for your injury. There are laws that prevent insurance companies from denying claims based on prior injuries or pre-existing conditions. Talk to a personal injury attorney before signing any release forms.
6. Pressure To Accept A Quick Settlement
The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement before you consult with a car accident lawyer. But the offer amount is probably much less than the value of your claim. When you have been injured, it’s not in your interest to settle an injury claim before medical treatment is completed. The full extent of your injuries may not be fully known until all medical treatment has been completed.
7. Discouraging You From Contacting a Lawyer
You will almost always be discouraged from consulting a personal injury attorney by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may tell you the settlement does not require a lawyer or that an attorney will just take all the money. However, in reality, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing up front, and in fact legal representation will probably increase the amount you receive from a settlement.
Don’t Negotiate With Insurance Companies Without an Attorney
You may believe you can negotiate with your insurance company without a lawyer. However, hiring an lawyer could increase the amount of the settlement you receive from your personal injury claim. An attorney knows the monetary damages available for an injury claim and how to maximize the value of your settlement. An estimated 91% of people who hire a personal injury lawyer receive a settlement compared to only 51% who do not. Futhermore, the amount received could be 2-3 times more with a lawyer negotiating the settlement. If you are injured due to negligence on the part of someone else in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re dealing with an insurance company, don’t go it alone. Contact a car accident or personal injury lawyer.
What About Criminal, DUI, or Family Law Cases?
What’s the difference between personal injury lawyers and criminal defense or family law lawyers? Personal injury lawyers fight to get you paid, criminal defense and family law fight for your feedom. Because of that fact it is quite common for personal injury lawyers to work on a contingency basis, taking their compensation out of the settlement and not your pocket. Unfortunately, for almost all other practice areas you’ll most likely have to dig deep into your pockets. Since freedom is on the line and you most likely will pay dearly for it, you should make sure you find an attorney or lawyer experienced in the predicament you find yourself|If you are paying for it, you’ll want to find a best criminal defense lawyer, DUI lawyer, or family law or divorce lawyer that best suits your circumstances}. Here is a list of Phoenix area criminal defense, family law, and DUI lawyers in the Phoenix valley and surrounding areas to get you started.
Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.