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5 Ways Insurance Companies Trick You After a Car Accident
Insurance Companies Call ImmediatelyInsurance companies will often call injury victims as soon as they find out about the accident. You could still be in the emergency room or at the doctor and receive a phone call from the insurance company. Their goal is to catch you off guard and to gain your trust before you speak with a lawyer to find out your rights. You could still be in shock or on pain medication when these calls are made.
Demanding a Statement
The first order of business is to demand a recorded statement. The insurance company wants you to make declarative statements like “I’m not injured” before you know the full extent of your injuries. Medical journals show that many injuries, including soft tissue damage, can take several days or weeks to surface following a car accident. Providing a recorded statement to an insurance company is an easy way to destroy your injury claim before it even gets started.
Taking Statements Out of Context
Adjusters will sometimes take statements you make out of context. For example, if they ask you “how are you doing” and you respond with “I’m doing fine.” They might interpret that as you not having any injuries or pain symptoms.
Fake Deadlines
Insurance adjusters are trained to give you fake deadlines for personal injury protection (PIP) claims. They tell you they are going to “close your file” or they tell you they will withdraw a settlement offer if you don’t accept by a certain date. Often, these are tactics used to get you to agree to a low-ball offer before you’ ve had a chance to calculate your losses.
Disputing the Severity of Your Injuries
Insurance adjusters are trained to evaluate your injury claim with a skeptical eye. In many cases, they attempt to tell you that you are not as injured as you say you are. This tactic is incredibly common.
Avoid Falling for These Tricks
Reach out to a lawyer today to learn more about the best ways to handle your claim.
