After being involved in an auto accident, you should file a personal injury claim against the other driver. You should also be aware that insurance companies aren’t there looking out for your best interests. Instead, they’re going to try to save money where they can, even if that means a victim gets shorted.
Of course, you do have to agree to any settlement offers they make, which is why it’s important to know the tactics they will use to devalue your claim. When you work with your attorney, they will also watch out for signs that the insurance company is trying to settle too low and build up your case to make sure you get what you deserve.
How do insurers try to devalue a person’s case?
One of the first things, and potentially most frustrating, that an insurance company will do to devalue your claim is try to show that your injuries aren’t as severe as they are. They may call you and ask you to describe your condition. Don’t do this. Your medical provider and attorney can handle those calls.
They might claim that a $20,000 award will cover your medical expenses and needs in the future, even though you aren’t sure how serious your injury is or how it will affect you in the future.
Insurance companies may make what looks like a generous settlement right away, but you should know that most will not offer as much as they could right away. Instead, they’ll try to get you to agree to less, so that they will pay out less and save money for their company.
What can you do to avoid settling for too little after a crash?
After an auto accident, the first thing you should do, financially, is figure out how much you’ve spent. Then, you should get an idea from medical providers and other professionals about how this injury may impact you in the future. Will you be able to work? Will you be in pain? Is there a future surgery that may need to take place? All of these questions should be answered before you ever accept a settlement.
Finally, know your legal rights. Don’t sign any settlement until you’re sure it’s enough to cover your losses and to provide you with any coverage you need for this injury in the future.
