Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements
Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements
Kelly Law Team - Personal Injury
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. Unfortunately for accident victims, insurance companies fight personal injury claims to avoid paying money. It’s critical to be prepared before discussing your case with an insurance adjuster In this article, Phoenix personal injury lawyers provide tips and reveal common tactics used by insurance companies to minimize settlement claims. Before you discuss your claim with any insurance company, claims adjuster, or agent, you should be aware of the tricks insurance companies use to fight your personal injury claim and lower their payout. Some of the most common tactics are:
1. Blame the Victim
This is a common tactic. Don’t be surprised if the insurance claims adjuster attempts to shift the blame for the accident to you. Blaming the victim is a common tactic to avoid liability for a car accident or another personal injury. If the insurance company can convince a jury that you were partially, or completely, at fault, your compensation can be reduced by a proportionate amount. If your insurance company tries to claim you are at fault, hire a personal injury lawyer to represent your case.
2. Deny Claims Due To Delayed Medical Care
It is essential that you seek medical care promptly afer an accident. 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. Delaying The Case
Delaying the case is also a common tactic. Dragging out the case delays the settlement, so delays put pressure on you for 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. For some situations, the statute of limitations may increase or decrease the time to file a claim. 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 which may be against you to deny the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are often recorded. Anything you say may be used to hurt your claim. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters. Claim 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 give a written or recorded statement to an adjuster without firsttalking to a personal injury attorney.
5. Asking You For Access to Your Medical Records
A common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that can be used to lower the value of your claim. The adjuster may tell you in order to verify your injuries the insurance company needs copies of your medical records. It is very probable that the insurance company will obtain copies of your entire medical history to search for prior injuries and argue that they are responsible for your injury. It is unlawful for insurance companies to deny claims based on prior injuries or pre-existing 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 personal injury lawyer. But the offer amount is probably far lower than the value of your claim. When you have been injured in an accident, it’s not in your best interest to settle an injury claim before medical treatment is completed. The full extent of your injuries may not be fully known until a doctor releases you from treatment.
7. Discouraging You From Contacting an Attorney
You will likely be discouraged from consulting a personal injury attorney 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, in reality, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing, and having legal representation will likely 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 attorney could increase the amount of the settlement you receive from your injury claim. An experienced attorney understands the damages available for an injury claim and they know how to maximize the value of your settlement. An estimated 91% of people who hire a personal injury lawyer receive a settlement compared to only 51% who do not. Futhermore, the amount you receive could be 2-3 times more with a lawyer negotiating the settlement. If you’re injured due to negligence on the part of someone else in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re dealing with an insurance company, don’t go it alone. Contact a car accident or personal injury lawyer.
What About Criminal, DUI, or Family Law Cases?
While much of the same advice applies when facing criminal charges, DUI charges, or a family dispute in Arizona, personal injury law is unique in that you are fighting for monetary compensation. As a result, almost all personal injury lawyers will work on a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid when you do. There is no out of pocket expense to you However, other than personal injury law, you are likely to have to dig deep to pay for a criminal defense, family law, or DUI attorney. 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}. Here is a list of Phoenix area criminal defense, family law, and DUI lawyers in the Phoenix valley and surrounding areas to get you started.
Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.