The Tricks an Insurance Company Will Use to Get Out of Paying You
Insurance companies spend lots of time and money training their claims adjusters to pay as little as possible on as few claims as possible. Then they hire an army of lawyers to defend these unfair decisions. Without a personal injury lawyer, it is almost impossible for an injury victim to get fair compensation by fighting against a giant corporation. Here are some of the most common tricks an insurance company will use to try to get out of paying you fair compensation for your injuries:
Pushing For a Quick Settlement
At the beginning of your case, the insurance company might promise you a quick payment if you will agree to settle your claim right away. This settlement is tempting for many injury victims. After all, if you are accruing medical bills and unable to work, you need money as soon as possible. But it is a mistake to settle your case before you have a chance to really investigate your losses. You may not know how long you will be out of work.
You could have long term injuries that will result in future medical bills. These are losses caused by the defendant’s negligence, and the insurance company has an obligation to pay you for them. If you settle your claim too quickly, you might miss out on compensation to which you are legally entitled.
Claiming Your Case Isn’t Worth Very Much
You can be sure that the defendant’s insurance company will think your case is worth less than it actually is. Remember, they are not on your side. You should never take legal advice from someone who is actively working for the other guy. Only your own personal injury lawyer can give you a fair assessment of what your claim is actually worth.
Trying to Blame You for the Accident
In some cases, the insurance company might deny that their client was at fault for the accident at all. If they deny liability, they do not have to pay you anything. It can be challenging to prove who was at fault for an accident after it happened. Many personal injury victims who do not have a lawyer give up on the claim altogether.
But if you have a lawyer fighting on your side, they will know how to prove that the defendant was at fault. This process might require expert witnesses such as an accident reconstructionist. Your lawyer will know best how to handle the issues that arise in order to prove that you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Trying to Blame You For Making Your Own Injuries Worse
In some cases, the insurance company might try to claim that you made your injuries worse by failing to get medical attention right away or not following through on your doctor’s recommendations. The insurance company does this because the defendant only has to pay for the injuries they caused - not extra pain and suffering that you endured by not getting the right medical treatment. But other times, the insurance company might claim that you got too much treatment.
This tactic is common when you receive physical therapy, chiropractic services, or other treatment that relies on subjective reports of pain and discomfort. It can be a no-win situation for injury victims whose every medical bill is scrutinized by a cold claims adjuster. Here, too, it is essential to hire your own personal injury lawyer who knows how to fight for fair compensation for all of your medical bills.
Sending a Private Investigator to Follow You and Your Family
If the insurance company thinks you are lying about your injuries or pain, they may even send a private investigator to follow you. The goal is to get photos or video footage of you doing something that “proves” you are not really as hurt as you claim to be. But what this amounts to is a stranger that follows you to your work and home.
That’s right - a stranger could be following your children near your own home. These tactics are less likely to occur when the insurance company knows that you have an injury lawyer who is protecting your legal rights. But they still have other ways of trying to get private information about your life.
Snooping Through Your Social Media Accounts
Thanks to social media, it is easier than ever for an investigator to get private information about you, your family, your work, and your life. These are trained experts who know how to access personal information online. Your privacy setting may not be enough to stop them from snooping into your life.
This fact is why it is so important not to post anything about the accident or your injuries until your case is done. You should also be careful to double-check your privacy settings and not accept any new connection requests.