Human beings are designed to make adjustments and adapt to changes in their lives, depending on the circumstances that they are going through. Consequently, when thinking about indemnity for an average American, one of the most common reasons that tend to take many Americans over the deep end, is costs or car indemnity premiums. It is an adjustment that many people will tell you: “it’s painful to the core.”
It begs the question: are there any tricks that indemnity corporations use after one has been involved in an accident? If so, what effect do these tricks have on compensation? These are questions that everyone, who owns a car, should ask at any given opportunity. Especially when you get involved in an accident. How best will you maneuver around them? Below are seven of the most common tricks that many insurance companies use to swindle you after an accident:
Recording a statement
Once you are involved in an accident, whether minor or extreme, the first item on the indemnity corporation is to get a report from you. As important as it may seem to you, the indemnity approach is designed at showing concern and acting polite, but don’t let that fool you. In many cases, the intention to be helpful is not driven by your concerns, but rather by their interests. As agents, they have mastered the art of acting concerned, but all they are looking for is an opportunity to make profit.
The ultimate goal is to ensure that they pay as little as possible. Hence, there are three main issues to consider in such a scenario:
In essence, the statement basis is one of the common tactics that indemnity corporations use to pick as much as information they can of the details of the accident. To place yourself in a better position, you may deny them the request until you talk to your lawyer. After that, the advice given by your lawyer will determine the direction of the interactions with indemnity employees, and the lawyer may decide to communicate with them on your behalf.
No need to call a lawyer
This is the most common phrase that the indemnity employees will tell anyone involved in an automotive accident. Since they act based on showing your concern and depict that everything is going to be okay. They will tell you that the matter is under control and there is no need to get a lawyer. Don’t take this lying down; as noted before, they adopt an approach that seems to guide you through a difficult and challenging moment but don’t be an open book; they want to acquire as much facts from you as possible.
For indemnity corporations, simple is the best way to get away with damages; therefore, a good lawyer will often let you know that when everything is unadulterated, they are more often comfortable to manipulate things. Things are supposed to be complicated for indemnity corporations to meet their obligations. A good lawyer is supposed to get things problematic for indemnity corporations, so that they cannot have their way.
Indemnity corporations often have a plan in place where they deny victims of accidents fair compensation, which is as a result of making things appear simple for the victims. Once you realize that the indemnity corporation does not want you to call a lawyer that is when you have to get one. An essential factor to consider is once you call a lawyer, their plan is neutralized. Remember, the more things are difficult for the indemnity corporations, the easier it is to get fair compensation.
Cash offer for signing a release
When accidents result in severe injuries, the medical bills start pilling, income dwindles, and financial stress becomes the norm. It becomes an embarrassing moment for everyone, especially if you are the breadwinner.
The challenges you will be going through will not escape the indemnity corporation’s minds, and more often, they may use it to try and get you to settle the case, as a result. Unfortunately, the settlement will be the bare minimum that might not enough to pull you out of your financial hole and tribulations that you may be facing. Complications may often occur as a result of the injuries, and once you settle for less, then the burden might be hard for you to handle. The spiraling cost of such complications in the future may put your financial situation from bad to worse.
Such expenses often direct the indemnity corporation to try and settle everything as soon as possible and get things done. Once they settle with you, it will be challenging to work and go in for additional compensations from your indemnity corporation. In essence, whenever you are involved in an automotive accident, it is advisable that ignore any initial advances by your indemnity corporation to sign at all costs, not unless your lawyer is present. Only make this move upon being advised on the consequences of signing the release forms and you have understood everything fully.
A good lawyer will not only advise you but based on similar cases, he or she will provide you with a clear evaluation of such settlement and what it means to you. Such information is crucial for you, especially in case of any complications taking place in the future. The reviews in terms of long term effects and costs of the injuries will most definitely be an essential part of the settlement.
Denying liabilities
It does not go without saying that your indemnity corporation will begin to deny liabilities and claims in case of accidents and injuries, since they often rely on your trust of all their intentions. Indemnity corporations, once unable to convince you to believe them, might resort to other tactics in their books, just to deny liability. A good example is where the indemnity corporation shifts blame on you and, as a result, refuses to compensate you. In other instances, if the crash is the fault of the other driver, they may try and partially blame you and make you answerable, thus deny liability.
Having in mind that the indemnity corporation is in business, then every concern you have is to avoid trusting them and their assessment of fault as well, in absence of your lawyer. This is important to underline as it keeps you alert of any move by your indemnity corporation. The other issue of great consequence is that even though you bear some level of responsibility for the accident, your eligibility for reimbursement is still valid.
In several instances, while the degree of compensation might vary from place to place, there are certain areas where the amount awarded for personal injury is proportional to the degree of fault. This is an important consideration, since the jury determines the percentage of an error on the person liable for the accident. In retrospect, such direction ensures that you, as a person involved in the crash, can still manage to claim for compensation of medical bills, lost wages, and more, as long as the jury establishes that the defendant was at fault, at 50% degree or more.
Injuries downplay after the vehicle wreck
Your indemnity corporation may trick you will by downplaying the damages incurred as minor, once they realize that they cannot pin the blame, for the accident, on you. It can often be accomplished with the help of their doctor or even a medical professional, as well. The intention is still to provide an independent medical examination submission to make it sound less severe contrary to the way you and your doctor put it.
It is essential to underline that an independent doctor is often not as impartial as they are required to be, especially if they are on the indemnity’s payroll. They may be set to come up with conclusions and propitious that meets the indemnity corporation’s requirements. Being alert and aware of such arrangements is often important. This will help you in the direction of the claim and compensation, as well. Unfortunately, if the doctor is not dancing to the tunes of your indemnity corporation, they still have a chance to hire another medical examiner; mainly an examiner who is easy to manipulate. This may not be a legwork for them unfortunately.
The process, according to car accident laws, requires one to have a submission of an independent medical examiners assessment to move forward with the contention. Once you have your attorney set and they take full control of your case they will get a reliable medical examiner who will provide the necessary assessment to move the claim ahead. An experienced attorney should prepare the requirements, including your arrangement for the IME, and take you through every step of the process. It boosts your confidence in the process and the law.
The claim of an existing condition
As your indemnity corporation examines your application and realizes that they cannot set aside your contention altogether, a background check on your medical condition might do the trick for them. They could possibly get their hands on something and claim that your injuries existed before the accident, and as a result, they are not legally liable for paying the claim. It is also important to note that no matter how isolated or outlandish the assertion is, it will not stop them from arguing it in court.
In any case, irrespective of your pre-existing condition, it does not necessarily mean that you do not have a case. On the contrary, in some states, you might still recover some damages on the fact that you had pre-existing injuries; the accident may have aggravated the injuries. All these are crucial aspects to consider when appointing an attorney for your case. An experienced attorney has faced similar issues and will always have the required skills to utilize available laws and provide avenues for reasonable compensation.
Endless delays
Once everything else has proven futile, indemnity corporations may resort to delaying the settlement for claims of an accident. The responsibility to process claims in a timely fashion and ethical manner lies squarely on them. Consequently, any dishonest behavior or stalling tactics would be directed towards exasperating victims, to give up on their claims. Several excuses might be used by an indemnity adjuster to justify their slow progress. The most common reasons are:
In some instances, indemnity companies are known to avoid calls or even keep changing your adjusters as well; their intention would be to start the process over and over again. In most cases, the combination of a couple of tricks can be on the table for indemnity corporations, especially with the offer of quick cash. The slow progress is meant to frustrate, discourage, and create a feeling of hopelessness, for you to take their offer in sheer despondency.
The most critical aspect of an accident, as determined above, is that the indemnity corporations are businesses, and for corporations, profit is their number one priority. The concern that some shrewd indemnity firms might have is a way to influence your decisions about the claim. Having an attorney present for any meetings with the indemnity corporation staff is a great step towards ensuring that all your needs are addressed.
Finally, many experienced attorneys are well aware of the tricks that indemnity corporations use in accident claims. They will use their expertise to advise and guide you towards an easier reimbursement and a far much deserving compensation from your insurer. At the same time, the attorneys will study and identify heinous tactics of your indemnity corporation and help to take appropriate actions against them. The more information you have and keep, the better your chances against indemnity corporations.
Please do not attempt to determine if you have a compensable case. You must consult a relevant liability attorney who has the expertise and extensive knowledge necessary to determine who ultimately caused the harm and injuries you or a loved one suffered. Contact us for a free case evaluation here.