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
You’ve heard the stories, a friend has been injured in an auto accident, a slip and fall injury, a workplace injury, all your friend wants is fair treatment from their insurance company. Sadly, insurance companies are not there to help, frequently fighting claims to avoid payouts. If you are not prepared before contacting your insurance company or meeting with an adjuster, you may very well walk away empty-handed. 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
It’s not uncommon for an insurance adjuster to attempt to shift the blame to you for the accident. Insurance companies will try to avoid liability for the accident by suggesting you are at fault If the case goes to trial, and the insurance company can convince a jury that you were even partially at fault, they can reduce the amount of the claim paid to you. If the insurance company suggests you are partially at fault for your injury, hire a personal injury lawyer immediately.
2. Denial of Claim Due To Delayed Medical Care
It is essential that you seek medical care promptly afer an accident. Discuss any symptoms with a doctor to ensure that injuries are documented for the claim. Failing to seek prompt medical care leaves the door open for the insurance company to argue your injuries were from a previous accident.
3. Delaying The Case
Dragging out the case benefits the insurance company. The insurance company knows you need the money, so delays put pressure on you for a quick settlement. But they may also attempt to delay the case to create a statute of limitations 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. It’s best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to avoid a problem.
4. Requiring Recorded or Written Statements
It’s not uncommon for an adjuster to ask for a written or recorded statement for the insurance company to process your claim. This tactic is used to obtain information which may be against you to deny the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are usually recorded whether they tell you or not. Anything you say can be used against you to hurt your claim. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters. Adjusters work to protect the insurance company’s best interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is never in your best interest to provide a written or recorded statement without firsttalking to a personal injury lawyer.
5. Requiring Access to Medical Records
A common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that can be used to lower the value of your personal injury claim. The adjuster may tell you in order to verify your injuries the insurance company must have copies of your medical records. It is highly likely that the insurance company will use the release to 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 record release forms.
6. Pressure To Accept A Quick Settlement
Insurance companies may offer you a quick settlement before you consult with a personal injury attorney. The first offer is almost always lower than the value of your claim. If you have been injured in an accident, it’s not in your best interest to settle a personal claim before medical treatment is completed. The full extent of your injuries may not be known until all medical treatment has been completed.
7. Suggesting That a Lawyer Will Take All Your Money
You will likely be discouraged from consulting a personal injury lawyer by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may tell you the settlement does not require a lawyer or that a lawyer 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 having legal representation will probably increase the amount received from a settlement.
The Benefit of Having a Personal Injury Attorney
You might think that you do not need a personal injury lawyer and can get a settlement on your own. However, hiring an attorney could increase the amount of money you receive from your personal injury claim. An experienced attorney understands the damages available for an injury claim and they know how to maximize the value of your settlement. An estimated 91% of people who hire a personal injury attorney get a settlement compared to just 51% who did not. In fact, the amount received could be two to three times higher with a lawyer negotiating the settlement. If you’re injured due to negligence on the part of someone else in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re your insurance company is resisting a settlement, don’t go it alone. Call 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. As a result, almost all personal injury lawyers will work on a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid when you do. There is no out of pocket expense to you However, other than personal injury law, you are likely to have to dig deep to pay for a criminal defense, family law, or DUI attorney. 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.