Car accidents are an everyday occurrence, and while many of us think it’ll never touch our lives, it’s always best to be prepared and understand exactly what goes into a car accident claim. By law we must carry automobile insurance, and you would think that when the time comes for us to use this service, we would be treated with the utmost care and respect. Unfortunately, the car insurance companies are only out to do one thing, and that’s to make a profit. So, in our time of need, we will find that we are not the number one priority on our car insurance company’s list.
Tactics They Don’t Want You To Know
Car insurance companies use many tactics in order for them to still make money even when they have to generate a check to their insured. Here are a few of the tactics that insurance companies will use in order to maximize their profits and minimize your benefit.
Calling too soon. An insurance company may call you too soon after the accident for a few different reasons. Either because you’re still vulnerable after your accident; that you’ve yet to determine the full extent of the injuries you sustained; and you have yet to hire an attorney. The insurance adjuster will call and make sure he tells you he’s sympathetic to your situation, all in an attempt to get you to trust him. Never give in to this tactic and always talk to your lawyer before you make any settlement with the insurance company.
Offering fast cash. This goes hand-in-hand with the above statement. The insurance company will try to offer you fast cash because they’ll be well aware that you may be in an financial crunch and in need of some money. No matter how tempting it is for you to take the money and run, keep in mind that most likely this will not be enough money to sustain you in the long run. When thinking about a settlement, consider important aspects such as future medical bills, future lost wages and more. It’s important that you speak with a personal injury attorney before you sign the release forms.
Fighting a portion of your medical bills. Another tactic used by some insurance companies after an accident is to fight a portion of the injured party’s bills, or try to devalue the claims. The insurance company may say that they believe you were injured during the accident, but they may argue that your injuries were not as severe as you claim. They may also argue that you waited too long to seek treatment, and this is why your injury is worse than it should be.
The insurance company may also try to persuade you that you should stop your treatment at a certain point because it’s bad for you. Trust that your medical professionals guidelines and suggestions will ensure the best way for you to heal from those injuries.
Delay tactics. The insurance company will know that you’re facing financial difficulties, especially after you suffer a severe injury. You may be facing mounting medical bills, along with lost wages. It’s possible you’ll also lose your car. This creates a lot of stress. The insurance company will know this and use your vulnerability to their advantage. They can delay payouts on your bills until you’re at the point where you’ll settle for any amount, just to get some cash in hand. Certainly this won’t be enough money and you’ll find yourself wishing you had waited.
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