Why the Insurance Company Isn’t Your Friend After an Accident
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, not friends, no matter how nice the insurance adjuster is. They are focused on the best interests of their business. This means saving the company as much money as possible. They want to protect their bottom line.
This, in turn, means covering as little as possible for you and your accident. Because of this, you need to know what to do and how to handle insurance companies who may put on a friendly face to protect their interests and leave you without the compensation you’re due.
Filing Your Insurance Claim
It starts with filing a claim, as you’ll have to report your car accident no matter how you choose to proceed afterward. If you don’t report your accident as soon as possible, the insurance company may suspect fraud, which can cause more problems for your claim.
From the beginning of your insurance claim, it’s crucial to watch what you say to insurance adjusters. Anything you say may be recorded. If you say the wrong thing, they may use that as grounds to reduce your settlement or deny your claim.
Insurance Company Tactics to Look For
Insurance companies want you to settle with them without a lawyer to deal with them. That puts them in the best position to settle your case for as little money as possible.
Here are some tactics insurance adjusters may use when trying to avoid paying out for your settlement:
- Offer a quick settlement amount that lowballs your claim’s value
- Avoid calls, which can pressure you to take what they offer
- Blame you for the accident so they don’t have to pay
- Deny medical bills based on price, timeliness, or alleged lack of coverage
- Claim the accident was minor and you weren’t really injured
- Take something you said out of context
- Ask you to sign a medical authorization form to speak with your doctors or check your records
- Tell you that you are not in need of a lawyer
Protecting Your Case from Insurance Companies
From start to finish after an NYC accident, you need to take the right steps, without giving insurance companies grounds to act. Adjusters, in many cases, do not know what the case you have is worth. They use a computer program to come up with the numbers.
It takes a lawyer to look at the facts of the case and determine what you’re entitled to. They know the law and can provide the necessary counsel you need to get the compensation you truly deserve. Having a law office work for you will ensure they go the extra mile needed.
Let an Attorney Fight for You
The insurance company may work better with an experienced attorney. Allow our team here at Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP to fight for you and your rights after an accident.
Don’t let the insurance company bully you into taking a lowball offer. Give us a call at 1-800-VICTIM2 (842-8462) or fill out our online contact form below to take advantage of a free consultation and speak with our team about your claim.