It is no secret that insurance companies do not always put your best interests first. At the end of the day, insurance companies are businesses and saving money – by not giving you what you deserve – is their end goal in the claims process. When dealing with these companies, it is important that you have someone who represents your best interests at your side.
The Baton Rouge car accident attorneys at Simien & Simien work closely with accident victims to pursue the maximum recovery they deserve. Our attorneys are familiar with the tricks that insurance companies often use and can warn you on how to avoid them.
Here are some things you most likely will not hear from an insurance adjuster in the claims process.
We Want to Pay You as Little as Possible
It is important to understand the players involved in car accident claims. The defendant usually has insurance that he or she purchases through an insurance company. When the insurance company receives a claim, it assigns the claim to one of its claim’s adjusters. These individuals are trained to investigate the claim and resolve all claims for as little money as possible without subjecting the company to unnecessary risk.
The claims adjusters are paid by the insurance companies. The insurance industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry that stays in business by receiving more premium payments and interest on these amounts than it pays out for claims. This means insurance companies are motivated to resolve claims for as little money as possible.
Policyholders do not file claims very often, so they do not have much experience dealing with insurance adjusters. In contrast, claims adjusters are trained negotiators who have developed a variety of tactics to resolve claims while paying out as little compensation as possible. These individuals often use a variety of tactics to try to get what they want, such as:
Acting like your friend so you trust them
Getting you to accept partial fault for an accident that was not your fault
Refusing to pay compensation for certain portions of your claim
Delaying your vehicle repairs until you agree to an injury settlement
Making you a lowball settlement offer
Resolving the claim quickly before you have the opportunity to consult with a lawyer
Remember that the insurance adjuster is not your friend and his or her job is to try to seem sympathetic, so you resolve your claim with little pushback. Additionally, claims adjusters are often awarded or promoted based on their ability to minimize the financial payout on claims, so they are further incentivized to pay as little as possible.
“Accepting Full Responsibility” Means We Will Make You the Lowest Offer Possible
Sometimes an insurance adjuster will state that the company “accepts full responsibility” for the accident. This may occur in situations where liability is clear, such as when the insured was drunk, texting or driving, or clearly breaking a traffic law at the time of the accident.
People are often relieved to hear this from the adjuster, believing that they will be treated fairly. They may even decide not to hire a lawyer because they have gotten the insurance company to approve the claim. However, what they do not know is that the offer the claims adjuster makes may be the lowest amount possible.
You Do Not Need to Give a Recorded Statement
The insurance adjuster will probably ask you to make a recorded statement about the accident. However, this should be avoided – especially when you do not have the assistance of legal counsel. The insurance company will carefully dissect your recorded statement for anything that can be used against you or taken out of context to reduce the value of your claim. You can simply respond “no” to any request for a recorded statement.
You Should Hire a Lawyer
Insurance adjusters may try to convince you that you do not need to hire a lawyer because they are offering you a settlement. They may try to influence your decision by saying that lawyers will take a large percentage of your settlement to cover their costs.
However, the attorneys at Simien & Simien do not get paid unless our clients receive compensation first. This is called the contingency fee system. We know how to handle the complexities of an insurance claim and pursue all compensation victims are entitled. Additionally, personal injury accidents often involve complex issues, such as hospital liens and payback claims that your attorney can handle for you.
Schedule Your Free Consultation with a Qualified Lawyer Today
We understand that most insurance companies will not work on your behalf to give you a fair outcome. Our Louisiana personal injury lawyers at Simien & Simien will fight for your best interests to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and we will be able to answer all your legal questions.
Call us at (800) 374-8422 for your free case evaluation.
