Insurers will use 4 common strategies to avoid paying you what you deserve:
Using your words against you.
Scaring you with baseless accusations.
Intentionally stalling.
Pushing paperwork onto you until you sign.
An auto insurance adjuster is a full-time, professional low-baller. The BEST thing you can do to fight back ishire full-time professional auto accident lawyerswho have made their living fighting for Wisconsin’s injured.Hereare some things to think about as you do so.
Like any business, an insurance company tries to maximize revenue while minimizing expenses. Your normally pleasant relationship with an insurance company could turn nasty after an accident. Their strategy isn’t to offer you what you need, but what they think you’ll accept without a fight. In this day and age, it can be surprising that a large auto insurance company would try to screw its customers. The fact is, this sort of behavior is common, widespread, and profitable.
In an ideal world, an insurance company would deliver prompt and courteous compensation for your injuries and expenses as promised. In the real world, they will hire professional negotiators to stall, intimidate, and weasel their way out of any payment they can.
There are 4 common strategies that an insurer will use after an accident to avoid paying enough
1. An insurance company WILL use your words against you
Assume anything you say to a representative of an insurance company is being recorded and analyzed for them to use against you. When you’re speaking with an insurance adjuster following an accident it is important that you NEVER:
While it is important to represent your side of the story truthfully, the answer to any question they ask or offer they make should be: “Let me consult my attorney.”
2. An insurance company WILL hurl baseless accusations to scare you
Once you begin to defend yourself against an insurance company they may fire back with scare tactics. They might claim that you’re inflating the costs of your medical expenses and committing fraud. They may threaten to get your driver’s license taken away. They may even tell you that their offer is final.
Don’t believe them. An insurance adjuster is not a lawyer, a fraud investigator or a judge, and they have no legal authority. As long as you’ve represented your case aggressively but truthfully they will not waste money to follow through on these threats.
They know that good, honest people are terrified of being falsely accused of a crime, getting wrapped up in a court battle, or losing out on an insurance settlement that they need. Exploiting these fears with empty threats is often an effective strategy for them.
3. An insurance company WILL intentionally stall and take too long
There is no law that says an insurance company MUST provide prompt service. They know that they can wear many people down and run out the clock by taking their sweet time until the statute of limitations passes. An insurance company may kick the can down the road by:
“Losing” your paperwork
Transferring your to another adjuster
Not returning your calls
Lowballing you to begin a drawn out negotiation process
If scaring you doesn’t work, an insurance company’s next tactic is to frustrate you until you cave and take whatever they put in front of you. They know that nobody wants to be dealing with the fallout of a car accident months after the dust has settled. You have bills to pay from the accident and the longer they stall the more dire your situation becomes. Don’t let an insurance company push you into desperation.
4. An insurance company WILL push paperwork at you until you sign
The most effective strategy that an insurance company has is the ‘fishing expedition.’ They will keep sending you paperwork that says “Sign here and collect your check.” DON’T SIGN ANYTHING until you’ve reviewed it with an experienced personal injury attorney and made sure that their offer satisfies your financial needs.
Their letters may become more aggressive as time goes on, insisting that this is their FINAL OFFER and if you don’t sign you will miss out on any hope of compensation for your damages. Do not believe them. With a calm head, the facts on your side, and a personal injury lawyer on your team, you CAN get the compensation that you deserve.
Getting an offer from a liability insurance company means they've concluded that someone they sold insurance to is liable for your losses. They quickly offer you a lowball settlement in hopes that you'll take it before you learn from a lawyer what your claim is really worth. Don't fall for lowball offer tactics.
Getting an offer from a liability insurance company means they've concluded that someone they sold insurance to is liable for your losses. They quickly offer you a lowball settlement in hopes that you'll take it before you learn from a lawyer what your claim is really worth. Don't fall for lowball offer tactics.
There are two ways insurance companies can end a customer's policy: through non-renewal or cancellation. Non-renewal means the insurance company will see out the rest of your policy term but let you go as a customer after that.
Another reason for these low offers is that insurance companies hope to close the case quickly. They know that the sooner a claim is settled, the less chance there is of new information coming up that could increase the claim's value.
Speak with a Car Accident Lawyer: Seek legal counsel to understand your options and potential legal action. File a Complaint: If necessary, file a complaint with the insurance company or regulatory authorities. Don't Settle for Less: Refrain from accepting a low settlement offer without proper evaluation.
Try to stay level-headed. Keeping the conversation polite and respectful will improve your chances of reaching agreement. It is also important that you take time to prepare yourself before those negotiation talks begin. Good preparation will give you more confidence going into mediation or settlement discussions.
If faced with a low offer, respond honestly yet respectfully. Mention any higher offers or opportunities you have, stating they're a certain percentage above the current offer.
Negotiating with the insurance company should be your first step in trying to get a larger insurance settlement. However, it may not be successful, and you should be prepared for that outcome. You may need to take your case to court if you cannot negotiate a settlement.
The expected insurance funds are often used to pay for medical treatment and auto, home, and property repairs. By delaying communication and payment, Insurance companies hope that you will accept a lesser settlement out of frustration, ultimately saving the company money.
Why Insurance Companies Lowball Clients. No matter how unfair it may appear, lowball settlement offers are commonplace in personal injury cases, given the sky-high insurance premiums some insurer charge. The reason is simple – these companies always try to restrict their liability.
When filling out the lost policy release, also called a “cancellation/lost policy release,” the insured typically chooses between three types of cancellations: flat, pro-rata, and short rate. Flat cancellations are used when the insurer was never exposed to risk because the coverage never went into effect.
The insurance adjuster has only the best interests of their client in mind and will perform their duties with a certain degree of bias. Some insurance adjusters may even go as far as to employ bad faith tricks to lower the potential payout the insurance company has to deliver.
An adjuster determines the value of your car by considering its make, model, age, condition, and mileage, among other factors. They may use software or databases to get an accurate estimate of your car's actual cash value. 2.
Mistakes happen. The difference between the excellent adjuster and the so-so adjuster is the number of mistakes made. Claims management, supervisors, and managers also make errors in judgment or unwittingly commit an oversight.
Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654
Phone: +8524399971620
Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor
Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting
Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
