When you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, getting compensation from the responsible party is a high priority. For many incidents resulting from negligence, your first step is filing a claim with an insurance company. Motorists, business owners, property managers, and many others carry insurance to protect their interests. However, while filling out a few forms might seem easy, there’s much more to an insurance claim. Insurers are businesses first, so they employ tactics to pay you as little as possible. Unless you know how to counter insurance company tricks, your right to recover damages is at risk.
Our Houston personal injury attorneys at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. have decades of experience dealing with insurers daily. So we’ve seen the ploys they use to deprive injured victims of fair, reasonable compensation. Unlike insurance companies, we put your needs first.
For help with insurance issues after a Houston car accident, call (281) 283-8500. We’re happy to set up a free consultation to review your situation and how we can overcome challenges in the claims process.
5 Tactics Insurance Companies Use after Car Accidents
1. They Blame You fro the Crash
Since fault is a key consideration in a motor vehicle crash, one of the first strategies insurance companies employ is blaming you for causing it. An adjuster may levy allegations against you, while also disputing the actions of their own policyholder. It’s for this reason that car accident lawyers caution against making any statements since your words could be construed as an admission of fault.
2. Alleging Insufficient Medical Records
Another crucial element in a personal injury claim is the nature and severity of your injuries. A common insurance company trick is to assert that you didn’t provide sufficient medical records regarding diagnosis, treatment, limitations, and other details.
It’s true that an adjuster may have a good point in denying your claim if you don’t supply this information. However, in most cases, it’s a ploy to offer you a lowball settlement amount.
3. Recording Your Statements
It’s one thing to adversely affect your claim by revealing too much about fault and your injuries. Allowing yourself to be recorded by the insurance company can cause even worse, potentially irreparable damage to your claim.
An adjuster can pick apart your words, focusing on phrases that favor the position of the insurer. Because they’re memorialized in a, there’s little you can do to take back your statements.
4. Imposing Time Limitations
Under the Texas statute of limitations, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit in court. However, insurance companies implement their own time restrictions when it comes to filing an injury claim.
If you wait too long, you can be sure the adjuster will use the delay as grounds to deny payment. The deadline varies among different companies, so your best move is to retain legal representation right away and have your attorney handle deadlines.
5. Disputing the Strength of Your Case
If other insurance company tricks don’t work, the insurer’s employee may simply offer a blanket statement that your case won’t stand up in court. Adjusters realize that you probably don’t have a legal background, so they take advantage.
They’ll attempt to convince you into a “take it or leave it” scenario, telling you that these cases fail once they reach the litigation stage. Only an attorney that represents YOU can explain your legal options and advise you on accepting an insurer’s offer to settle.
Call A Houston Personal Injury Lawyer
Insurance company tricks come in many forms, and claims adjusters can be sly. Always remember that their job is to act in the best interests of the company – not yours. You can trust The Krist Law Firm, P.C., to prioritize your needs and fight an insurer’s attempt to pay out as little as possible.
If you were hurt and need legal advice, please contact our office to speak with one of our knowledgeable attorneys. You can set up a no-cost case evaluation by calling (281) 283-8500 or fill out our online form.