Tactics Car Insurance Companies Use to Devalue or Deny Valid Claims

Insurance companies are for-profit companies, which means they use a variety of tactics to devalue or deny valid claims. This puts innocent victims at risk of long-term financial harm. Examples include delaying your claim or lowballing your offer. Speak with a Lexington car accident lawyer today about your case.

Delaying Your Claim Process

Delays in filing a car insurance claim put you at risk. The insurance company knows you need money to recover and get back on your feet after being out of work and hurt. They know prolonging your claim process frustrates you. It may mean you will take a lower settlement.

There are time limits for filing your lawsuit, so do not delay in contacting a lawyer at Gary C Johnson, P.S.C.

Disputing Liability

Insurance companies will dispute liability in any car accident case they can. This may mean they make it seem like you are at fault for the accident rather than their client. They may try to place partial blame on you, which could reduce any compensation you receive.

Additionally, some may dispute that they should cover your accident. They may refute being responsible for the policyholder’s actions.

Seeking Unnecessary Information and Medical Records

Insurance companies commonly seek more and more information and data from you. Many times, the data they want is irrelevant to their responsibility to provide you with compensation. They may seek medical records to prove your injuries are the result of pre-existing conditions. They may try to get you to admit fault by asking numerous questions. All of this puts your case at risk.

Sending Lowball Offers

Car insurance companies often send lowball settlements, those that may be a fraction of what you have in medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Sometimes, this may seem like a big number, and that encourages individuals to settle fast, especially if the insurance company tells you that you must act quickly. This type of rushed process often indicates there is much more on the table than they want you to realize.

Other times, they send lowball offers with dozens of excuses as to why they should not pay the full value you claimed. You may trust them and believe they are being authentic. The outcome is that they pay you far less than they should.

Claiming Pre-Existing Conditions

Like trying to say your injuries were there before the accident, insurance companies may also try to state that damage to your vehicle or emotional trauma you requested compensation for are also from pre-existing conditions. They deny your claim, and you feel helpless in recovering fair compensation.

Using Your Social Media Against You

Insurance companies watch you. They look at your social media accounts, for example, looking for evidence that you do not deserve fair compensation. They may use photos of you being out to dinner with friends to indicate you are not suffering at all. This works against you even when it is fully out of context.

How a Lexington Car Accident Attorney Protects You

Working with a Lexington car accident attorney shifts control back to you. Your Lexington personal injury lawyer will:

• Handle all communication with insurance companies
• Prevent unfair delays and pressure tactics
• Accurately calculate the full value of your damages
• File a lawsuit when necessary to protect your rights
• Pursue bad faith claims when insurers act unlawfully

Legal representation often makes the difference between a low settlement and full compensation.