When you’re involved in a car crash, it is usually, understandably,
a very stressful and emotional time. When a personal injury occurs due
to the accident, it can be even tougher for an accident victim. Not only
may the victim have to get medical treatment, but they may be out of work
for a period of time. Sadly, an insurance company might take advantage
of your vulnerability and try to use certain tactics to get you to settle faster.
Typically, they do this in order to save their company money and pay less
for the injuries, lost wages, and vehicle repairs or replacement. Unfortunately,
in many cases, the amount they offer to injury victims is much less than
what they rightfully deserve.
This is especially true if you do not have
legal counsel after a
car accident. It may seem easy for insurance agents to take advantage of these individuals
who are most likely under a lot of stress. We want you to know how to
deal with that type of situation should it arise. Speaking with a
knowledgeable attorney might help you find the answers you need, and a lawyer could negotiate
with the insurance adjuster on your behalf.
Here are 3 of the most common insurance company tactics:
1. Trying to get you to offer a written or recorded statement
This tactic is a common one. The insurance adjuster may tell an injured
party that he or she must provide a detailed statement immediately about
the accident, property damage and injuries. Many insurance agents are
trained to be polite but firm at the same time. Their probable objectives
are to get you to say the accident was your fault or that it was partially
your fault. If you do that, you might not be able to get what you rightfully
deserved for compensation.
2. Acting like they are on your side
Insurance agents and other insurance agents staff may imply that they are
doing all they can to help car accident victims. They might even say that
they are trying to close the case as quickly as possible, for your benefit.
This is said in order to gain your trust. They might offer you money in
order to help pay for some of your medical bills or lost wages. However,
remember that once you sign and cash the check, you might have unknowingly
agreed to take the settlement offer. This is why it’s so important
to have an attorney on your side who can help you determine what amount
you are entitled to.
3. Encourage you to spare yourself money and not hire a lawyer
The insurance agent might talk in a manner that sounds like he or she is
trying to help, and he or she might try to convince you to settle without
help from a personal injury attorney. They may ask you, “Why pay
lawyer fees when you don’t need to?” Unfortunately, insurance
agents are not neutral parties. They are safeguarding their insurance
agency’s interests, not the accident victim’s interests. Surely,
they should be negotiating for your behalf and ought to be using good
faith with their decision-making. In addition, most attorneys, including
the ones at The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery, work on contingency
fees. What this means for our clients is that they do not have to pay
unless our firm helps win them compensation.
Don’t Wait, Get Help Today
No matter where an accident happens or which insurance agency handles the
crash, the attorneys at The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery want you
to know the laws regarding personal injuries so you get the compensation
you deserve. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer could help ease your
mind about the accident, and it could help you get the money you have
the right to.
Even if you believe the insurance agency settled properly and you believe
all your emotional, physical, and property damage needs were met, you
may wish to talk with a lawyer before you settle, just to be on the safe side.
Unlike an insurance agency, an attorney truly is on your side. If you’re
injured in an accident and need help obtaining compensation, the attorneys
at our firm will fight for your rights and negotiate on your behalf, so
you do not have to be under more stress. While the insurance company will
be looking out for its own best interests, we will be looking out for yours.
Contact The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery
for a
free consultation to discuss your case.