Learn the most common ways that insurance companies try to get out of paying you.
If you have been injured in an accident, you may think that the best way to get paid is to work directly with the insurance company. After all, the other person has insurance for a reason — and they should cover all of the damages that their insured is responsible for, right? Wrong. Insurance companies are not in the business of paying out big settlements — at least not when they can avoid it. They often try to minimize the amount of money that they have to pay to injured parties, which can leave you holding the bag with medical bills, lost wages and more. An experienced personal injury attorney, like the lawyers of the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, can help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case. In the meantime, look out for these ways that insurance companies may try to trick you into settling for less than what you deserve for your injuries.
Telling You That You Don’t Need An Attorney
Retaining a lawyer after you have been injured is a smart move — but some insurance companies will imply (or flat out say!) that you are up to no good if you hired an attorney. They may even pressure you into signing a settlement agreement or other document before you’ve had a chance to talk to a lawyer. Don’t do it!
The reality is that an insurance company is looking out for its own bottom line, and not your best interests. A seasoned personal injury lawyer will represent YOU — and will fight to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve to cover your injuries, medical treatment, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and more.
Downplaying Your Injury
Insurance companies may also try to make it seem as though you aren’t as hurt as you claim to be — which means that they don’t have to pay you as much money to settle your claim. They may try to show that the accident just wasn’t that bad, or that it wasn’t severe enough to cause the injuries that you are claiming.
Insurance companies often hire doctors to perform medical exams of injured parties. Because this expert is working on behalf of the insurance company, it isn’t surprising that they often determine that your injuries are not as significant as you claimed. They may also claim that you had a pre-existing injury, and that is the reason for your problems — not the accident. The insurance company’s lawyers will comb through your medical records looking for anything that could explain your current symptoms and limit their liability. Having your own personal injury attorney is the key to defending yourself against the claim that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
Blaming You
As a way to get out of paying for an accident or reduce your claim, an insurance company may blame you for the accident. They might say that you were engaging in risky behavior and assumed the risk that this injury would occur, or that you acted negligently yourself and your actions partially or fully caused the accident. Finally, they may argue that you made your injuries worse by not seeking medical attention right away or by not following your doctor’s orders. That is why it is so important to see a doctor immediately after an injury — and to retain a lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced personal injury attorney can fight back against these claims and show that the other party was truly at fault for your injuries.
Having a good personal injury attorney can make the difference between fully recovering for your damages and being stuck with a mountain of debt for an accident that wasn’t your fault. Contact the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com. We know how to deal with insurance companies, and will aggressively pursue your claim through negotiation or in court. We never charge a fee unless we recover money for you, and our initial consultations are always free.
