A lot of accident victims think that insurance providers are concerned about their financial situation and want to help them maximize their personal injury claims. However, the truth is that insurance companies have adjusters trained to devalue or deny claims to increase the profit margin of their employers. If you have suffered injuries in an accident that was somebody else’s fault, you must work with a skilled Law Office of James T. Ponton, LLC attorney who will guide you through each step of your personal injury claim. Your attorney will advise you against negotiating with the insurance providers without them. Insurers will usually use any of the following tactics to try to get you to settle your claim for the least amount of money possible:
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Offering a Quick Settlement
After an accident, an insurance adjuster will contact you shortly once you have filed a claim. They may express sympathy and seem friendly but this can be deceiving. The adjuster reaches out to you to make a quick settlement offer, hoping you will accept it and end your claim. This can happen before you can consult with a lawyer and understand the true value of your claim. While the adjuster’s initial offer may seem generous, it may not cover all your losses. When you accept their offer, you will lose your right to additional compensation.
Asking for a Recorded Statement
Insurance adjusters might request a recorded statement from you, saying it can expedite your claim. But this statement will not benefit you. The adjuster’s intention is to get certain details in your recorded statement that they can use against you or your claim. They can design questions to force you to admit being fully or partially responsible for the accident and your injuries. So, do not give any recorded statement to the adjuster without consulting with your attorney first.
Delaying Payment
The adjuster knows that you have a tough financial situation and an uncertain future. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you could face constantly increasing medical bills while being forced to take some time off work. These issues can impact your financial security as well as increase your emotional and mental stress following the accident. The adjuster may try to delay a payment, so you become desperate and just accept even a smaller amount of settlement than you deserve just to get faster compensation. But giving in to this tactic can result in you not being able to demand additional compensation that you might need to fully recover from your injuries.
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