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. It’s critical to be prepared before discussing your case with an insurance adjuster 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 the insurance company suggests you are partially at fault for your injury, hire a personal injury lawyer immediately.
2. Deny Claims Due To Delayed Medical Care
It is essential that you seek medical care promptly afer an accident. 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. Delaying The Case
Delaying the case is also a common tactic. The insurance company knows you need the money, 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. a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to avoid a problem.
4. Requiring Written Statements
It’s not uncommon for an adjuster to ask for a written or recorded statement to process your claim. This common tactic is used to obtain information which may be against you to deny the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are often recorded whether they tell you or not. Anything you say can be used against you to reduce your claim. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters. Adjusters work to protect the insurance company’s interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is never in your interest to give a written or recorded statement without talking to a personal injury attorney.
5. Asking You For Access to Medical Records
Another common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that can be used to lower the value of your claim. The adjuster may tell you in order to verify your injuries the insurance company needs copies of your medical records. It is highly likely that the insurance company will obtain copies of your full 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 pre-existing conditions. Talk to a personal injury attorney 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 attorney. 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 fully known until all medical treatment has been completed.
7. Discouraging You From Contacting an Attorney
You will likely be discouraged from consulting an accident injury attorney by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may suggest the settlement does not require a lawyer or that a lawyer will just take all your money. However, the truth is, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing, and in fact legal representation will probably increase the amount received from a settlement.
The Advantage of Having a Personal Injury Attorney
You may believe you can negotiate with your insurance company without a lawyer. However, hiring an attorney could increase the amount of money you receive for your injury claim. An experienced attorney knows the monetary damages available for an injury claim and they know how to maximize the value of the settlement. An estimated 91% of people who hire a personal injury attorney get a settlement compared to only 51% who do not. In fact, the amount received could be 2-3 times higher with a lawyer negotiating the settlement. If you’re injured due to negligence on the part of someone else in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re your insurance company is resisting a settlement, don’t go it alone. Call 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.
Collection of Personal Injury Resources
Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.