Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements
Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements
Pulling Back The Curtain on Tactics Used By Insurance Companies to Reduce Settlements
We've all been there, an auto accident, slip & fall, or another personal injury, all you want is fair compensation from your insurance company. Unfortunately for accident victims, insurance companies fight personal injury claims to avoid paying money. If you are not prepared before contacting your insurance company or meeting with an adjuster, you may very well walk away empty-handed. In this article, Phoenix personal injury lawyers provide tips and reveal common tactics used by insurance companies to minimize settlement claims. Insurance companies will use various tactics to fight your personal injury claim or lower the amount of the settlement. Here’s a list of the most common tactics:
1. Shifting the Blame
This is a common tactic. Don’t be surprised if the insurance claims adjuster attempts to shift the blame for the accident to you. Blaming the victim is a common tactic to avoid liability for a car accident or another personal injury. If the case goes to trial, and the insurance company can convince a jury that you were even partially at fault, they can reduce the amount of the claim paid to you. If your insurance company tries to claim you are at fault, hire a personal injury lawyer to represent your case.
2. Denial of Claim Due To Delayed Medical Care
Prompt medical care is essential for your personal injury claim. Document any injuries or symptoms with a doctor for your claim. If you do not seek prompt medical care, the insurance company may argue the accident did not cause your injury.
3. Drag Out A Case
Delaying the case is also a common tactic. Dragging out the case delays the settlement, so delays put pressure on you for a quick settlement. The insurance company may also delay the case to create a statute of limitation defense. For most cases, the statute of limitations on personal injury is 2 years. There are exceptions to the statute of limitations that may increase or decrease the time to file a claim. It’s best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to avoid a problem.
4. Requiring Written Statements
A claims adjuster may ask you to provide a written or recorded statement for the insurance company to process your claim. This tactic is used to obtain information to use against you to deny the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are often recorded. Anything you say may be used to deny your claim. Adjusters work to protect the insurance company’s interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is never in your best interest to provide a written or recorded statement to your insurance company without firsttalking to a personal injury attorney.
5. Requiring Access to Medical Records
A common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that can be used to lower the value of your personal injury claim. The adjuster may tell you in order to verify your injuries the insurance company needs copies of your medical records. It is very probable that the insurance company will obtain copies of your entire medical history to search for prior injuries and argue that they are responsible for your injury. It is unlawful for insurance companies to deny claims based on prior injuries or conditions. Talk to a personal injury lawyer before signing any record release forms.
6. Pressuring You For A Quick Settlement
The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement before you consult with a personal injury lawyer. But the offer amount is probably much less than the value of your claim. If you have been injured in an accident, it’s not in your interest to settle an injury claim before medical treatment is completed. The extent of your injuries may not be known until all medical treatment has been completed.
7. Discouraging You From Contacting a Lawyer
You will likely be discouraged from contacting an accident injury attorney by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may tell you the settlement does not require an attorney or that a lawyer will take all your money. However, the truth is, most personal injury lawyers accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing up front, and in fact legal representation will likely increase the amount you receive from a settlement.
Don’t Negotiate With Insurance Companies Without an Attorney
You may believe you can negotiate with your insurance company without a lawyer. However, hiring an lawyer could increase the amount of the settlement you receive for your personal injury claim. An attorney knows the damages that may be obtained for an injury claim and how to maximize the value of your settlement. In a recent article, it was estimated that 91% of people represented by a personal injury lawyer get a settlement compared to just 51% who did not. Futhermore, the amount you receive could be two to three times more with an attorney negotiating the settlement. If you were injured due to someone else’s actions in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re your insurance company is resisting a settlement, don’t go it alone. Contact a car accident or personal injury lawyer.
What About Criminal, DUI, or Family Law Cases?
What’s the difference between personal injury lawyers and criminal defense or family law lawyers? Personal injury lawyers fight to get you paid, criminal defense and family law fight for your feedom. As a result, almost all personal injury lawyers will work on a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid when you do. There is no out of pocket expense to you Unfortunately, for almost all other practice areas you’ll most likely have to dig deep into your pockets. Since freedom is on the line and you most likely will pay dearly for it, you should make sure you find an attorney or lawyer experienced in the predicament you find yourself|If you are paying for it, you’ll want to find a best criminal defense lawyer, DUI lawyer, or family law or divorce lawyer that best suits your circumstances}. Here is a list of Phoenix area criminal defense, family law, and DUI lawyers in the Phoenix valley and surrounding areas to get you started.
Phoenix Injury Attorney Presentations
Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.