Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements
Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements
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. Sadly, insurance companies are not there to help, frequently fighting claims to avoid payouts. If you are not prepared before contacting your insurance company or meeting with an adjuster, you may very well walk away empty-handed. In a recent article Phoenix personal injury lawyers pulled back the curtain on the tactics used by insurance companies to reduce the payout to settle claims. Insurance companies will use various tactics to fight your personal injury claim or lower the amount of the settlement. Here’s a list of the most common tactics:
1. Shifting the Blame
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 the insurance company suggests you are partially at fault for your injury, hire a personal injury lawyer immediately.
2. Denial of Claim Due To Delayed Medical Care
Prompt medical care is essential for your personal injury claim. Document any injuries or symptoms with a doctor for your claim. Failing to seek prompt medical care leaves the door open for the insurance company to argue your injuries were from a previous accident.
3. Delaying The Case
Dragging out the case benefits the insurance company. 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. In Arizona, the statute of limitations on personal injury cases is 2 years. There are exceptions to the statute of limitations that may increase or decrease the time to file a claim. Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to avoid a problem.
4. Requiring Written Statements
A claims adjuster may ask you to provide a written or recorded statement for the insurance company to process your claim. This tactic is used to obtain information to use against you to undervalue the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are usually recorded. Anything you say can be used to deny your claim. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters. Adjusters are working to protect the insurance company’s interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is not in your best interest to provide a written or recorded statement without talking to a personal injury attorney.
5. Asking You For Access to Your Medical Records
Another common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that may be used to deny or lower the value of your claim. The adjuster may tell you to verify your injuries the insurance company must have copies of your medical records. It is very probable that the insurance company will use the release to obtain copies of your full 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 conditions. Consult a personal injury lawyer before signing any release forms.
6. Pressuring You For A Quick Settlement
The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement before you consult with a personal injury attorney. But the offer amount is probably much lower than the value of your claim. When you have been injured in an accident, it’s never in your interest to settle a personal claim before medical treatment is completed. The full extent of your injuries may not be fully known until all medical treatment has been completed.
7. Suggesting That an Attorney Will Take All Your Money
You will almost always be discouraged from consulting a personal injury lawyer by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may tell you the settlement does not require an attorney or that an attorney will just take all the money. However, the truth is, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing up front, and having legal representation will probably increase the amount received from a settlement.
Don’t Negotiate With Insurance Companies Without an Attorney
You might think that you do not need a personal injury lawyer and can get a settlement on your own. However, hiring an lawyer could increase the amount of the settlement you receive for your injury claim. An attorney understands the damages available for an injury claim and how to maximize the value of the settlement. In a recent article, it was estimated that 91% of people represented by a personal injury lawyer get a settlement compared to just 51% who did not. In fact, the amount you receive could be 2-3 times higher with an attorney 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 your insurance company is resisting a settlement, don’t go it alone. Contact a car accident or personal injury lawyer.
What About Criminal, DUI, or Family Law Cases?
What’s the difference between personal injury lawyers and criminal defense or family law lawyers? Personal injury lawyers fight to get you paid, criminal defense and family law fight for your feedom. Because of that fact it is quite common for personal injury lawyers to work on a contingency basis, taking their compensation out of the settlement and not your pocket. 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}. Below is a shortlist of area criminal defense, DUI, and family law attorneys in the Phoenix area to start your search.
Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.