If you have recently been involved in a car crash caused by someone else, there’s a good chance that you have been contacted by an insurance company. They may seem very friendly and to have your best interests in mind, but it’s important to realize that they’re not on your side. In fact, the insurance company is actively trying to get you to go away for as little money as possible. For this reason, you should always talk to an attorney before talking to the insurance company at length about your accident.
How Insurance Companies Make Money
To understand why the insurance company is not on your side, it may be helpful to consider how they make their money. Every month, their customers pay them premiums in return for insurance coverage. They turn a profit by paying out less than they take in, and the less they pay out, the more money they make. For this reason, if they can find any way to deny your claim or minimize your settlement, they will.
The Tricks They Play
Insurance companies use a variety of tactics that are designed to get claimants to settle for less or just give up and go away without compensation. Some of the more common include:
- Requesting that you provide a recorded statement, during which they ask you questions designed to get you to say something that could hurt your claim
- Asking to dig through your medical records in an effort to find anything that could characterize an injury as a pre-existing condition
- Not being accurate about your legal rights – for example, telling you that you are not entitled to compensation for pain and suffering
- Starting with an unreasonably low initial offer to make later offers look better
- Waiting for your medical bills to start piling up before making an offer
How an Attorney Can Protect You from Aggressive Insurance Companies
Fortunately, as a car accident victim, you are entitled to retain an attorney to represent you. Some of the specific things your lawyer can do for you include:
- Determining who could be held liable for your accident
- Evaluating your economic and non-economic losses and determining the value of your case
- Submitting your claim paperwork and a demand letter
- Communicating with the insurance company for you
- Attempting to negotiate a settlement offer
- Taking your case to court
It’s always better to get an attorney sooner than later after an accident. If you talk to the insurance company on your own, there is a chance that you will say or do something that will hurt your claim. Once you have a lawyer, however, they are required to communicate with them.
Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
At Salam & Associates, we are committed to protecting the rights of people who have been injured in serious accidents. We know how insurance companies try to pressure victims into settling for less and make sure they know we mean business. Our lawyers are licensed in Texas, New Mexico, Michigan and D.C. Contact us at 866-640-8998 or attorney@salampc.com to schedule your free consultation.
