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
You’ve heard the stories, a friend has been injured in an auto accident, a slip and fall injury, a workplace injury, all your friend wants is fair treatment from their insurance company. Sadly, insurance companies are not there to help, frequently fighting claims to avoid payouts. 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. Blame the Victim
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. Discuss any symptoms with a doctor to ensure that injuries are documented for the claim. If you do not seek prompt medical care, the insurance company may argue the accident did not cause your injury.
3. Drag Out A Case
Dragging out the case benefits the insurance company. The insurance company knows you need the money, so delays put pressure on you for a quick settlement. But they may also attempt to delay the case to create a statute of limitations defense. For most cases, the statute of limitations on personal injury is 2 years. For some situations, the statute of limitations 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 Recorded or Written Statements
It’s not uncommon for an adjuster to ask for a written or recorded statement to process your claim. This tactic is used to obtain information which may be against you to undervalue the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are often recorded. Anything you say may be used to reduce your claim. Adjusters work to protect the insurance company’s best interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is not in your best interest to give a written or recorded statement to an adjuster without firsttalking to a personal injury lawyer.
5. Requiring Access to Your Medical Records
A common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that may be used to deny or lower the value of your personal injury claim. The adjuster might 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 entire medical history to search for prior injuries and argue that they are responsible for your injury. There are laws that prevent insurance companies from denying claims based on prior injuries or conditions. Consult a personal injury lawyer before signing any release forms.
6. Pressuring You For A Quick Settlement
The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement before you have a chance to consult with a car accident lawyer. But the offer amount is probably far less than the value of your claim. When you have been injured in an accident, it’s never in your interest to settle a personal claim before medical treatment is completed. The full extent of your injuries may not be known until a doctor releases you from treatment.
7. Suggesting That a Lawyer Will Take All Your Money
You will almost always be discouraged from contacting a personal injury attorney by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may suggest the settlement does not require an attorney or that a lawyer will take all the money. However, in reality, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing, and having legal representation will likely increase the amount received from a settlement.
Don’t Negotiate With Insurance Companies Without an Attorney
You might think that you do not need a personal injury lawyer and can get a settlement on your own. However, hiring an lawyer could increase the amount of money you receive for your injury claim. An attorney knows the damages available for an injury claim and they know how to maximize the value of your settlement. In a recent article, it was estimated that 91% of people represented by a personal injury attorney get a settlement compared to only 51% who do not. In addition, the amount you receive could be 2-3 times more with a lawyer negotiating the settlement. If you were injured due to negligence on the part of someone else in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re dealing with an insurance company, don’t go it alone. Call a car accident or personal injury lawyer.
What About Criminal, DUI, or Family Law Cases?
While much of the same advice applies when facing criminal charges, DUI charges, or a family dispute in Arizona, personal injury law is unique in that you are fighting for monetary compensation. 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.
Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.