In the aftermath of your car accident, insurance companies are going to be contacting you to gather information and to try to find a way to settle your claim. These individuals might seem nice and supportive, but remember that the insurance company isn’t your friend. Here’s why:

• Profits: Insurance companies are in the business of making money. One way they do so is by paying out as little as they can in claims while collecting as much as possible in premiums. With that in mind, it’s easy to see that the insurance company that’s talking to you is looking for a way to avoid paying you what you’re owed.
• Adjusters will use your statements against you: Even the nicest insurance adjusters have a job to do. They’re going to be listening closely to every word that you say to see if there’s a way to twist your words against you so that a claim denial or decreased settlement is justifiable. So, be careful with what you say to these individuals.
• Slick negotiation tactics: Insurance companies are highly experienced in handling claim disputes, and so are their attorneys. That means that while you’re negotiating a settlement, you might be hit with statements that make you feel like your claim is weak or that the insurance company can’t offer you more than what they’ve put on the table at that time. Don’t fall for these tactics. Remember, there’s a good chance that they’re trying to get you to agree to something that is far less than you deserve.
• Unwarranted delays: In an attempt to prolong the investigation process to try to find something to use against you, the insurance company may delay paying out your claim. This can also create an enormous amount of financial pressure on you, which may drive you to settle your claim for less than it’s worth.
• Minimization of your injuries: The insurance company is probably going to downplay your injuries and your losses. This means that they aren’t going to trust what you have to say, and they’ll probably try to make you get evaluated by a medical professional of their choosing.
• Surveillance: Remember, insurance companies want to do everything they can to avoid paying you what you’re owed. One way they do this is by watching you. If you claim that you can’t lift heavy objects, for example, then the insurance company might go so far as to hire an investigator to follow you around to see if you end up lifting heavy objects in contradiction to your claim. This evidence can then be used against you.

Stand up to the insurance company that you’re dealing with

Dealing with an insurance company can be stressful, especially once they have you doubting your claim and you start to worry about how you’re going to make your recovery work from a financial standpoint. But an attorney who is experienced in this area of the law can help you push back against aggressive insurance companies and their legal teams. Hopefully you can successfully fight for the compensation that you deserve.