The vast majority of personal injury cases settle before they ever get to trial. Depending on the circumstances, this can be a good thing. After all, it may provide you with the immediate financial relief that you need. But from the outset of your accident, you need to be careful to protect your claim and its value. One way that you can do that is by remembering that insurance companies, even your own, are not your friend.
Why not to trust the insurance company
If you’re not aware of sly insurance tactics, then you could be putting your claim and your future in jeopardy. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the following reasons why insurance companies aren’t your friend:
- Adjusters are looking for your slipups: Insurance adjusters may seem friendly enough, but the truth is that they’re looking for statements that you make that the insurance company can use against you to prove proportionate responsibility. So, be guarded when talking with these individuals, and don’t agree to give any sort of taped or otherwise recorded statement about your accident before speaking with your attorney.
- They employ slick negotiation tactics: The attorneys who represent insurance companies know how to navigate this area of the law and position their client for success. As such, they also know how to deploy aggressive and oftentimes effective negotiation tactics. Therefore, when you’re at the negotiation table you may hear the attorneys say that they won’t pay more than a certain amount, that this is their final offer, or that you don’t have the evidence to succeed at trial. You and your attorney should make those determinations. Not the other side. So, don’t let yourself be pushed around by these tactics.
- Insurance companies know that you’re in a bind and exploit it: Insurance companies often market themselves as being a helping hand when you need one in a difficult situation. But the reality is that they know that you’re in a tough position where you need financial relief quickly. Insurance companies use this to their advantage to try to escape as much liability as possible. They may even turn your own hardships against you to try to drive towards resolution that is favorable for them.
- They’re not forthcoming: Insurance companies aren’t going to tell you everything they know, especially if the information is damaging to their position. So, as you communicate with one of these companies, you should suspect that they’re not telling you everything that you need to know.
- Insurance companies are in the business of generating profits: Insurance companies are businesses, which means that their primary goal is to make money. They can’t do that if they’re always paying out the full amount requested by car accident victims. This means that they frequently lowball settlement offers and fight to resolve cases as cheaply as possible so that they can protect their own interests.
Don’t get pushed around and manipulated by an insurance company
You’re dealing with a lot in the aftermath of a car accident. Because of this, you may be tempted to resolve your case as quickly and as quietly as possible. But don’t let your future be jeopardized by aggressive insurance tactics. Instead, stand up and fight for the outcome that you need and deserve. We know that can be a daunting thought, but that’s why proven law firms like ours stand ready to help you build your case and advocate to prove liability and the full extent of your damages. Hopefully then you can walk away from your case and focus on your recovery and getting back to your normal life.
