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 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. 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. Shifting the Blame

It’s not uncommon for an insurance adjuster to attempt to shift the blame to you for the accident. Insurance companies will try to avoid liability for the accident by suggesting you are at fault 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

Prompt medical care is essential for your personal injury claim. Document any injuries or symptoms with a doctor for your 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 to accept 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. There are exceptions to the statute of limitations that may increase or decrease the time to file a claim. It’s best to speak with 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 for the insurance company to process your claim. This tactic is used to obtain information to use against you to deny the claim. Phone conversations with your insurance company are often recorded whether they tell you or not. Anything you say can be used to hurt your claim. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters. Adjusters work to protect the insurance company’s interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is never in your best interest to provide a written or recorded statement to your insurance company without talking 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 may tell you to verify your injuries the insurance company needs copies of your medical records. It is very probable that the insurance company will use the release to 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. Talk to a personal injury attorney before signing any release forms.

6. Pressure To Accept A Quick Settlement

Insurance companies 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 lower than the value of your claim. When 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. Discouraging You From Contacting a Lawyer

You will likely be discouraged from contacting an accident injury lawyer by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may suggest the settlement does not require an attorney or that a lawyer will take all your money. However, the truth is, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing up front, and having legal representation will probably increase the amount received 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 the settlement you receive for your injury claim. An experienced attorney understands the monetary damages available for an injury claim and they know how to maximize the value of the settlement. An estimated 91% of people who hire a personal injury lawyer won a settlement compared to just 51% who did not. In addition, the amount received could be two to three times more with a lawyer negotiating the settlement. If you’re injured due to someone else’s actions in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re your insurance company is resisting a settlement, don’t go it alone. Call 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.

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Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.