Tactics Car Insurance Companies Use to Devalue or Deny Claims

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. However, insurance companies will try to avoid paying your claim or minimize the amount they pay you. Insurance companies are in business to make a profit and to do that they try to pay out as little as possible for claims. Their adjusters’ job is to look for ways to deny liability and if they can’t deny liability, they will try to settle your claim for the least amount you will accept.

You should seek the guidance of an experienced Dallas car accident attorney to handle the communications and negotiations with the insurance company. At Bush & Bush Law Group, we know all the tactics car insurance companies use to devalue or deny valid claims. We also know how to effectively deal with them and recover the maximum compensation you deserve.

Common Insurance Company Tactics

If you have ever had a car accident that was another party’s fault, you will probably recognize some of these tactics insurance companies use. The most common tactics car insurance companies use to devalue or deny valid claims include:

Calling You Quickly After the Accident

Often an insurance company will contact you right away hoping to catch you off guard. They may try to get you to say that you were not injured or that your injuries are minor. They may even try to get you to admit you were at fault before you have had a chance to investigate your accident and consider how it happened. They will use any statement you make during this chaotic time against you to deny or devalue your claim.

Asking For a Recorded Statement

The insurance company’s adjuster and representatives are well-trained employees who will use clever tactics to make it possible for the company to deny or devalue your claim. One of the most common tactics they use is to casually ask you for a recorded statement just to get the ball rolling on your claim. They may ask you if you are okay, hoping you to say “I’m fine” or “I’m okay” and will use that as an admission that you did not have any injuries from the accident.

An insurance company employee may say that they are relieved you were not seriously injured in the accident hoping you will agree so they can devalue your claim. Insurance representatives may press you for specific details of your injuries when you don’t yet know the extent of them. They may later claim you were unable to tell them of any injuries after the accident.

Adjusters often ask direct questions and try to get you to admit the accident was your fault or that you share some of the responsibility. You should avoid giving a recorded statement without consulting with your attorney first.

Sending You Confusing Notices and Documents

Often insurance companies will send confusing letters or notices that are intentionally written in language that is difficult to understand. They may hope you will not bother to read it carefully and then take advantage of your confusion to deny or devalue your claim.

Making a Quick Settlement Offer

When you are worried about your medical bills, your damaged vehicle, and getting back to work to support your family, you may be tempted to accept a quick settlement offer. You may even believe that the insurance company is offering you a fair settlement. However, you should be careful about accepting their initial offer. Many times you do not yet know the extent of your injuries.

Often car accident victims accept what they believe to be a good offer and then later realize they have ongoing medical issues caused by the accident. Once you settle your claim, you can not go back later and ask for more. It is essential that your attorney knows how to calculate all your current and future damages so your claim is properly valued and you get the maximum compensation you are entitled to.

Asking for a Medical Release

Be wary of signing a medical release. The insurance company will likely tell you they need a medical release to process your claim. However, their release will often be very broad so they can look back at past injuries. They will be analyzing your medical records for a way to say that your injuries were pre-existing. They can deny your claim if they can show that something else may have caused your injuries. Let your attorney handle the medical release request to ensure it is not unnecessarily broad.

Blaming You For the Accident

An insurance company may try to blame you for the accident even if they have no evidence to support this. They often hope you will be intimidated and drop your claim out of the fear you could be found at fault.

Suggesting You Do Not Need a Lawyer

An insurance company adjuster may say you are better off not hiring an attorney because an attorney will take part of your compensation. However, the insurance company is only looking out for its interest, not yours. They do not want you to know what your claim is truly worth. You need to have an experienced Dallas car accident attorney evaluate your case, deal with the insurance company, and get you every dollar you deserve.

Using Delay Tactics

Insurance companies sometimes delay settling your claim hoping to pressure you into accepting less than your claim is worth or trying to let the statute of limitations run out. To do this they may be slow to respond to you, delay investigating your claim, and intentionally misrepresent the terms of the insurance policy. Other delay tactics they may use include dropping your calls when you are on hold, transferring you to the wrong department, keeping you on hold for long periods, and using recordings instead of allowing you to speak to a person.

The longer they can delay paying your claim and frustrate you, the more likely you will be to settle for a lower offer. And if they can delay long enough, the statute of limitations may run before you file suit, and they will not have to pay you anything.

We Know How to Deal With Insurance Companies

The dedicated Dallas personal injury attorneys at Bush & Bush Law Group are intimately familiar with the tactics used by car insurance companies and we know how to deal with them effectively to get you the maximum compensation you deserve. Don’t try to deal with the insurance companies alone. Call us at (469) 977-7777 or visit our contact page today to schedule a free consultation.