If you have been injured in a collision or other kind of accident, something you need to know is that your insurance company, or the other party’s insurance company, is not on your side. While you may believe that insurance companies are meant to have the best interests of the victims in mind, the reality is that these companies need to protect their bottom line.
Any time you make an insurance claim, the deck is stacked against you. Why? From the moment you start your claim, the company will be tearing it apart and looking at it through a microscope to try to find flaws. The company will take steps to reduce the likelihood that it will have to pay out. On top of that, if it does have to pay out, it will attempt to pay as little as possible.
Be wary of insurance agents calling you at home
An insurance agent may reach out to you after a crash, accident or other incident. Their goal is to talk to you before you have time to talk to an attorney. Why? You may say something that will hurt your claim.
When they call, they might have a low settlement in mind. They could even offer it to you stating that it’s what the policy allows. Don’t take their word for it. Instead, refer the agent to your attorney instead.
The insurance agent is hoping that you will take a settlement because you need the money as soon as possible. The offer might be just high enough to be enticing, but it’s likely much less than what you really need to be financially whole after a personal injury.
You need to know how much you’ve lost in income and expenses before you ever consider taking a settlement. Keep your medical records and bills, keep track of your lost wages and don’t forget about extraneous expenses resulting from needing medical care, like travel costs or copays.
Don’t let an insurance company control the discussion. You have a right to negotiate and to seek fair compensation when you’ve been hurt. Even if you need the money quickly, you shouldn’t settle just because an offer was made. Wait to see how much your claim could actually be worth.