While insurance adjusters are usually friendly and seem very genuine, the truth is that their goal is to minimize your claim and pay you as little as possible.
If you’ve ever watched an ad for a car insurance company, you may think that filing and getting compensation is a walk in the park. While insurance adjusters are usually friendly and seem very genuine in their desire to help you, the truth is that their goal is to minimize your claim and pay you as little as possible. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and they use many tactics to scare victims into accepting a low-ball offer.
Insurance Companies Will Try to Convince You That You Need to Offer a Recorded Statement
If you were in a car accident, you might get a call from an insurance adjuster, claiming that you need to give a recorded statement about the incident. Although they might make it look that these statements are mandatory, the reality is that you generally have no legal obligations to give one. Adjusters are trained to ask trick questions and use your answers against you to reduce or even deny your claim.
The Three D’s
Insurance companies know that victims are often under a lot of pressure to pay their medical bills or other expenses and take advantage of this stress. One of the most common tactics they used to reduce or deny a claim is the three D’s – delay, deny, and defend.
Insurance companies often delay your claim, deny that your injuries were caused by the car accident, or are as serious as you claim them to be, and are ready to defend their position.
They Assign You a Team of Adjusters
Another tactic insurance companies use is telling you that they’ve assigned a team of adjusters to work on your case. That might sound great, but the fact of the matter is that they can stall and affect your claim.
A team of adjusters usually has very little authority and has to run everything through their superiors, meaning that communication is slow and tedious.
A Lawyer Can Help
Many people wrongly assume that they can handle their car accident claim by themselves and save money on hiring an attorney. However, car accident victims have a better shot at fair compensation by working with an experienced car accident lawyer.
That’s because car accident lawyers know all the tactics used by insurance companies and have the skills and resources to fight back.
Speak With an Experienced Attorney
It’s easy to think that insurance adjusters are well-intentioned and eager to help you. After all, they’ve been trained to gain your trust and make you open up to them. But, make no mistake: they will use anything they can to minimize your claim.
By working with a St. Louis car accident lawyer, you increase your chances of getting fair compensation for your injuries.