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. 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 a recent article Phoenix personal injury lawyers pulled back the curtain on the tactics used by insurance companies to reduce the payout to settle claims. Before you discuss your claim with any insurance company, claims adjuster, or agent, you should be aware of the tricks insurance companies use to fight your personal injury claim and lower their payout. Some of the most common tactics are:
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. Denial of Claim 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. Delaying The Case
Dragging out the case benefits the insurance company. Dragging out the case delays the settlement, so delays put pressure on you to accept a quick settlement. But they may also attempt to delay the case to create a statute of limitations defense. In Arizona, the statute of limitations on personal injury cases 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
A claims adjuster may ask you to provide a written or recorded statement for the insurance company to process your claim. This tactic is used to obtain information to use against you to undervalue the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are often recorded. Anything you say can be used to hurt your claim. Claim adjusters are working to protect the insurance company’s interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is not in your interest to provide a written or recorded statement to an adjuster without talking to a personal injury attorney.
5. Requiring Access to Medical Records
A common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that can be used to 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 pre-existing conditions are responsible for your injury. There are laws that prevent insurance companies from denying claims based on prior injuries or conditions. Talk to a personal injury lawyer before signing any release forms.
6. Pressure To Accept A Quick Settlement
The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement before you have a chance to consult with a personal injury attorney. But the offer amount is probably far lower than the value of your claim. If you have been injured, 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 fully known until all medical treatment has been completed.
7. Suggesting That a Lawyer Will Take All Your Money
You will almost always be discouraged from contacting an accident 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, the truth is, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing, and in fact legal representation will likely increase the amount you receive 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 lawyer could increase the amount of money you receive for your personal injury claim. An attorney understands the monetary damages available for an injury claim and how to maximize the value of your settlement. In a recent article, it was estimated that 91% of people represented by a personal injury lawyer won a settlement compared to just 51% who do not. Futhermore, the amount received could be 2-3 times higher with an attorney 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. Contact 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. Because of that fact it is quite common for personal injury lawyers to work on a contingency basis, taking their compensation out of the settlement and not your pocket. 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}. Below is a shortlist of area criminal defense, DUI, and family law attorneys in the Phoenix area to start your search.
Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.