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. It’s critical to be prepared before discussing your case with an insurance adjuster 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. Before you discuss your claim with any insurance company, claims adjuster, or agent, you should be aware of the tricks insurance companies use to fight your personal injury claim and lower their payout. Some of the most common tactics are:

1. Shifting the Blame

It’s not uncommon for an insurance adjuster to attempt to shift the blame to you for the accident. Insurance companies will try to avoid liability for the accident by suggesting you are at fault 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 your insurance company tries to claim you are at fault, hire a personal injury lawyer to represent your case.

2. Denial of Claim Due To Delayed Medical Care

It is essential that you seek medical care promptly afer an accident. Discuss any symptoms with a doctor to ensure that injuries are documented for the claim. If you do not seek prompt medical care, the insurance company may argue the accident did not cause your injury.

3. Delaying The Case

Delaying the case is also a common tactic. 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. For most cases, the statute of limitations on personal injury is 2 years. For some situations, the statute of limitations may increase or decrease the time to file a claim. a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to avoid a problem.

4. Requiring Written Statements

It’s not uncommon for an adjuster to ask for a written or recorded statement to process your claim. This common tactic is used to obtain information which may be against you to undervalue the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are often recorded whether they tell you or not. Anything you say may be used against you to reduce your claim. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters. Adjusters are working to protect the insurance company’s best interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is not in your best interest to provide a written or recorded statement to your insurance company without firsttalking to a personal injury lawyer.

5. Asking You For Access to Medical Records

A common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that may be used to deny or lower the value of your personal injury claim. The adjuster may tell you in order to verify your injuries the insurance company needs copies of your medical records. It is very probable that the insurance company will obtain copies of your entire 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. Talk to a personal injury attorney before signing any release forms.

6. Pressure To Accept A Quick Settlement

The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement before you have a chance to consult with a personal injury attorney. The first offer is almost always less than the value of your claim. If 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 known until a doctor releases you from treatment.

7. Discouraging You From Contacting a Lawyer

You will almost always be discouraged from contacting a personal injury lawyer by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may suggest the settlement does not require an attorney or that a lawyer will take all your money. However, in reality, most personal injury lawyers 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.

The Benefit of Having a Personal Injury 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 money you receive for your injury claim. An attorney knows the monetary damages available for an injury claim and how to maximize the value of your settlement. In a recent article, it was estimated that 91% of people represented by a personal injury attorney receive a settlement compared to only 51% who did not. Futhermore, the amount received could be two to three times higher with a lawyer negotiating the settlement. If you’re injured due to someone else’s actions 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?

While much of the same advice applies when facing criminal charges, DUI charges, or a family dispute in Arizona, personal injury law is unique in that you are fighting for monetary compensation. As a result, almost all personal injury lawyers will work on a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid when you do. There is no out of pocket expense to you Unfortunately, for almost all other practice areas you’ll most likely have to dig deep into your pockets. 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.

Phoenix Area Attorney Documents

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Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.