If you are injured in a car accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. However, insurance companies do not willingly hand over a check for the maximum value of your damages. They often use unfair tactics to deny or devalue your claim.
At Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys, our Chicago car accident attorneys are familiar with the tactics insurance companies may employ, and we know how to handle them effectively. We hold insurance companies responsible for paying the full value of our clients’ claims.
Don’t be bullied by an insurance company after a car accident. Let us help you get the justice and financial compensation you deserve. Call (630) 576-0528 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.
What To Know About Insurance Companies After a Car Accident
Insurance companies will often contact you immediately after an accident, hoping to either get you to settle your claim for a fraction of its actual value or to gather information they can use against you.
You must remember that the insurance company representatives are not your friends. They are highly trained and skilled employees working to limit the amount of money they have to pay. Their job is to help keep money in the insurer’s pockets.
You should consult an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney promptly and let them handle your insurance claim.
Common Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Deny or Devalue Your Claim
Insurance company adjusters will use tactics to try to get information to help them deny or devalue your claim. They may also try to pressure you to settle your claim quickly before you have contacted a lawyer and learn what your claim is truly worth. Don’t fall for their sneaky maneuvers.
Some of the unfair tactics insurance companies may use include:
- Contacting you immediately after your accident, when you may still be confused and disoriented. Insurance companies are aware of this and will use it to try to gain an advantage by contacting you immediately after an accident. They hope to get you to settle your claim for much less than it’s worth before you can consult an attorney.
- They may ask you to sign a medical authorization, which seems reasonable when you are claiming injuries. However, their medical authorizations are often very broad and may allow them to access your prior medical history that is not relevant to your accident. By doing this, the insurance company hopes to find a previous injury or pre-existing condition to blame for your current injury sustained in the accident. Do not sign their medical authorization. Allow your attorney to handle any necessary authorizations to ensure that they have access only to the relevant information.
- They may offer you a quick settlement. They hope they can convince you to take a low-ball settlement offer before you can consult an attorney and learn what the full value of your claim is. Do not be quick to accept a settlement offer. Consult an attorney and allow them to fully evaluate your claim so you can know what a fair settlement offer would be.
- They may ask you to provide a recorded statement. The adjuster may seem unbiased and even sympathetic to your injuries. However, do not be fooled. They hope you will give a recorded statement and say something they can later use against you. Don’t give them a recorded statement.
- Insurance companies often deny or delay investigating your claim. This is a delay tactic to buy them more time and put pressure on you to accept a lower offer. They know you have bills to pay and will try to take advantage of your vulnerability.
- They may try to shift the blame to you. If they are able, they will try to say the accident was your fault or that your actions contributed to the accident. If they can assign a percentage of fault to you, they will be able to settle your claim for less.
- Insurance company representatives have been known to misrepresent the insurance policy coverage benefits to victims and to misrepresent the applicable law to them. Don’t take legal advice from the insurance company. Contact an experienced car accident injury lawyer to understand your rights and options.
- They may tell you that you will be better off not hiring an attorney. They tell you this because they know that if you consult an attorney, you are likely to receive the full value of your claim rather than a much lower settlement offer.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today
Do not let insurance companies take advantage of you. Consult an experienced car accident injury attorney and let them handle your claim. At Meyers & Flowers, our attorneys will protect your rights and help you recover maximum compensation for your damages.
Call (630) 576-0528 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your car accident claim.