If you have been injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, the at-fault party’s insurance company will do everything in their power to minimize your payout. Many times, this can involve shady, dishonorable tactics. While the adjuster may seem friendly and outgoing, always remember they are more concerned with their company’s bottom line than your well-being.
Here are five common tricks to be on the lookout for if you are ever injured:
- Calling immediately to take a recorded statement.
If an insurance adjuster calls you immediately following an accident to “check in”, hang up the phone. Even if it seems informal and genuine, they are taking a recorded statement. If you say everything is okay, they will use this “testimony” against you at a later date. - Offering a low ball settlement for full release.
If you are made a settlement offer shortly after your injury, it’s likely only a fraction of what you are actually entitled to. Many times, the insurance company will make this low ball offer before you’ve even had time to go to the doctor. - Prolonging the process to wear you down.
If you’ve been seriously injured, you probably have bills piling up: medical expenses, rent, utilities, etc. If you were forced to miss work, you could fall behind on your payments, and the insurance company knows this. They will often stall the process in order to get you to accept the low ball settlement out of desperation. - Placing you under surveillance.
If your claim is for enough money, insurance companies may hire investigators to follow you around. These people will take pictures of you, maybe taking out the garbage, and try to use them as evidence that your injuries aren’t as bad as you claim. - Talking you out of hiring a lawyer.
The insurance adjuster will say you are better off taking their settlement than you are paying an attorney fee. While this may sound logical, the vast majority of the time, it is wrong. Claimants with professional legal representation generally walk away with more money in their pockets than those who settle directly with the insurance company.
If you have been injured in North Carolina or South Carolina, don’t fall for these tricks. Show the insurance company you mean business by hiring a professional injury attorney from Stewart Law Offices. Contact us online for a free case evaluation, or call (866) 783-9278.
