How Insurance Companies May Try to Mislead Accident Victims

When you file an insurance claim for an injury, it may seem like the insurance adjuster is on your side, working to help you get the money you may deserve. However, this is usually not the case – insurance adjusters are looking to save money for their company and pay you as little as possible, despite what they say and how they act.

When filing an injury claim, you need to be aware of the misleading tactics the insurance company may attempt to use against you. The New Jersey personal injury attorneys of Lynch Law Firm, PC explain more and share strategies to help protect your claim.

Misleading Statements to Watch For

After you file an insurance claim, you cannot take what the insurance company or its representatives say at face value – they may say whatever they think is necessary to get you to settle for less than you may deserve.

These are some misleading statements to watch for:

• You will not get anything if you do not accept the first offer we make.
• We will help you get the most money for your claim.
• You must make a statement, recorded or in writing.
• You can only use our chosen mechanic for repairs.
• You can only see the doctors we recommend for medical treatment.
• Your injuries are not from the accident, they are due to a pre-existing condition.
• We are on your side.

What You Need to Know About Insurance Adjusters

Here are some things to keep in mind when communicating with insurance adjusters:

• Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company’s best interest, not yours. They are trained to negotiate settlements that favor the insurance company, not to provide full compensation for a claim.
• Insurance adjusters do not have to play fair. They often act like your friend in order to make you trust them and feel more comfortable. They ask leading questions so that you may slip up and say something that could damage the value of your claim. Insurance companies can use what you say against you. For example, if you say you are “feeling better”, they may try to use these words to minimize the severity of your injury and reduce the value of your medical bills.
• If you reject an insurer’s settlement offer, they may ignore you to waste time so that the statute of limitations to file a personal injury case begins to run out.

Strategies for Dealing with Insurers

There are several best practices for dealing with insurance adjusters to help protect the value of an injury claim:

• Hire a personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer can handle all communication with the insurance company to ensure your rights are protected. The lawyers at Lynch Law Firm, PC are aggressive negotiators who are ready to go toe-to-toe with insurance adjusters in order to recover a more favorable settlement than what was originally offered.
• Make sure insurance company communications are handled in a timely manner. The policy may require claims be reported or information submitted within a certain period or your claim will be denied. Our attorneys are ready to get to work on your claim, so call today to set up your free consultation.
• Determine all the damages that you may recover before negotiating. At our firm, we work with you to identify all damages you have suffered, including future treatment costs so we can determine an accurate value for your claim.

Talk to Our Attorneys About Your Claim

If you have been injured in an accident, the experienced lawyers at the Lynch Law Firm, PC are ready to help. This may include dealing with insurance companies on your behalf and negotiating for favorable compensation.

Schedule a free, no obligation-consultation to learn more about how we may be able to help you. There are no upfront fees and you only pay us if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.

Call (800) 518-0508 today.