Anybody who has gone through the personal injury claims process will likely tell you that dealing with insurance adjusters can be incredibly frustrating. Not only is the paperwork confusing, but talking to adjusters can be stressful, as it may seem like they are not looking out for your best interests.
It is important that you know how insurers work. Below is a list of things to help you better understand the process from an insurer’s perspective. If you need assistance resolving a claim, we recommend that you talk to an attorney.
When you are talking to insurance adjusters, remember the following things:
- Insurance companies don’t want to pay you as much as possible. Insurance company is a business, and their business profits come from paying out as little as possible for claims. This is why the claims process is often so arduous – it is because insurance companies want to protect their profits.
- You don’t need to give a recorded statement. If an insurance adjuster want to record conversations with you, and will probably tell you that it is mandatory. This is not true. If an insurer approaches you to speak about your claim, you can simply tell them to contact your personal injury lawyer.
- You shouldn’t settle immediately. There is actually very little benefit to settling a claim immediately. Insurance companies of course want you to accept a quick settlement because they don’t want you to think twice. You should never accept an offer unless you know the accurate value of your claim and the extent of your injuries.
- You should negotiate your claim. Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators who are taught to offer a very low initial settlement to see if victims will accept it. You can usually negotiate your claim, so don’t be afraid to do so. Having an attorney negotiate for you can also give you more leverage, as he or she understands the laws and the true value of your claim.
- Insurance companies don’t want to go to court. When a case goes to trial, it can be expensive for insurance companies, and depending on the jury, may not end up in the insurance company’s favor. This is why it is usually in the best interests for insurers to settle a claim outside of court.
- If you have an attorney, insurers are likely to settle your claim for a fair amount. Insurers don’t want you to hire a lawyer because they don’t want to deal with someone who knows the laws and how insurers operate. It is well-known that people who are represented by attorneys are more likely to settle their claims for a fair amount.
Protect Your Right to Fair Compensation – Call Us
When you’ve been in an accident, turn to Rourke & Blumenthal for help negotiating your claim. Our Columbus personal injury lawyers have successfully recovered millions of dollars for injured people just like you. We work on contingency fees so you don’t have to worry about paying legal fees unless we recover money for you.