When you’ve been hurt because of another person’s negligence, one of the immediate thoughts is how the insurance company will take care of it. The problem with this thought is that insurance companies are often more interested in protecting their bottom line than providing fair compensation to the injured party.
In fact, insurance companies will look for various ways to either devalue or deny a valid claim. In this post, we’re discussing some of the ways the insurance company may use to lower or deny a valid claim.
The Insurance Company Is a For-Profit Business
It’s easy to understand the general belief that people have regarding insurance companies being ready to protect them. After all, we are required by law to carry car insurance. So, why wouldn’t they properly assist a victim of a vehicle accident? While it is the job of the insurance company to put the victim back into the state they were in before the accident, insurance companies are for-profit businesses. They’re not just looking to put a victim back to where they were before insurance. They’re also very concerned about making a profit. Because of this, it’s imperative that you are aware of the actions that the insurance company may take.
Tactics Car Insurance Use to Minimize or Deny a Claim
Here are some of the tactics used in car accidents by insurance companies to not pay you what the claim is worth:
- They call right after the injury. This may make it seem like the insurance company cares about what happened. In reality, they are calling during a very vulnerable time. The victim may still feel overwhelmed and rushed to make a decision. The victim also might not be aware of the full extent of their injuries. They know that by calling the victim early, they can make decisions before they are represented by legal counsel. Keep in mind that the insurance company always has a legal team looking out for it. They can’t provide the victim with any legal advice. With the overwhelm from the accident, the insurance company may try to push to deny the claim or pay less than the claim is worth. The insurance company has a goal that is opposite to that of the victim. They want to save as much money as they can.
- They ask early for a recorded statement. It makes sense that the insurance company wants your side of the story. However, this statement is a serious matter that shouldn’t be rushed. The insurance company uses recorded statements to avoid paying out a fair amount. They take the recorded statement and look for reasons to deny or devalue the claim at hand. It’s vital that you understand how important the recorded statement is. Make sure that you have an attorney on your side who can help you with properly wording your recorded statement.
- They ask you to sign a medical release. This is another tactic that seems to make sense since they’ll want to see information about your injuries from the accident. However, they often use a blank medical release that provides them with all of the medical information and not just the injuries related to the accident. This is important. The insurance company isn’t looking only at records related to the accident. It’s crucial to understand that they will make you believe that they need all the information. Make sure to hire a lawyer to review the medical release before you sign it.
Contact a Buffalo Injury Attorney
If you’re injured because of another person’s negligence, you may have valuable legal rights that need to be protected. Towey Law, PLLC has the experience you need to protect yourself from the insurance company. Schedule a free consultation now.