If you are pursuing a personal injury claim, you will most likely meet a representative of the insurance company. Dealing with insurance companies can get very complicated so ensuring that you understand some of the basic principles behind how they work will increase your chances of receiving maximum recovery.
Most insurance companies make us believe that they are very caring and act in our best interests. However, some other insurance providers have been known to utilize bad faith insurance tactics. Some even run ads on TV mentioning how easy it is to file a claim and receive compensation. However, there are a few facts that they might not want you to know.
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Delaying Claims is Good for Them
The biggest reason why insurance companies delay claims is to buy time and hopefully, thwart your chances of going to court. They are especially fond of doing this when they know you have very little time left to file a personal injury lawsuit.
If your claim is legitimate and the insurance company knows that if you go to court you will receive a higher amount of compensation, they will do whatever they can to delay the claims process. You’d expect if an insurance adjuster sees that your claim is legitimate then they will quickly resolve it but that’s not how they work. They will delay paying your settlement because they want to profit from your money on the financial markets for a longer period before they pay your claim.
In some cases, the insurance company will purposely deny your claim if they know going to court will be worth it. If they deny your claim, you still have the right to file a lawsuit since that is what the insurance company is forcing you to do anyway.
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They Will Settle if You Hire a Lawyer
Insurance companies will do everything they can to discourage you from hiring a lawyer. They may try to threaten you if you tell them you are going to hire a lawyer because they know you will get more compensation. Personal injury lawyers in Hyannis usually charge a contingency fee; meaning they only get paid when you get paid. This means your lawyer will work hard to ensure you get the highest possible amount of compensation. Insurance companies know that if they insist on paying you less than you deserve, your lawyer won’t be afraid of going to court. So they’d rather settle than go through a lengthy, expensive court process.
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Everything You Say or Do Can be Used Against You
Everything you do, including upload anything on social media can be used against you. Insurance adjusters are trained to poke holes in your claim. The more you say, the more they can use against you. This is why it is very important to hire a personal injury lawyer who can advise you on what to say.
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Easy and Quick Claims aren’t the Best
The only reason an insurance company will offer you a quick claim is when it serves their own best interest. If they accept your first offer during negotiations, chances are you asked for very little money. When you accept their initial offer, chances are the company figured they could silence you easily without paying a large amount. So if the company does not use the deny and delay tactic, they’ve already figured it’s profitable to settle early.
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Insurance Companies Prefer to Settle Out of Court
At first, the insurance company will act as if they don’t care if your case settles out of court or not. Insurance companies might make money by denying and delaying claims but they will lose money if the case goes to trial. This is because they will need to hire a lawyer and go through a lengthy process. If they think you have a solid case and you still have ample time to file a lawsuit, they will settle out of court. Besides, the risk of losing in court is too high.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember at all times that insurance companies always serve their best interests. They do not care about you. If you’ve been in an accident in Hyannis and you need to hire a personal injury lawyer, we can help. Call any one of our personal injury lawyers at 508-775-1660 or visit our Hyannis law offices today for a free initial consultation.
