Insurance companies pay out billions of dollars in car accident related costs every year. They do not like paying out such large amounts of money so it shouldn’t come as a surprise if a claims adjuster denies or tries to lower the value of your claim.
If you are a skilled negotiator, then you won’t have a problem getting the compensation that you deserve. However, if you have never dealt with insurance adjusters before and you have recently been in a serious car accident, it’s important to be aware of some of the costly mistakes to avoid during negotiations. We have put together a quick guide that should help.
Costly Mistakes that can Cost you Your Settlement.
The settlement process can be quite challenging if you decide to deal with the claims adjusters directly. This is because they are trained to pay out as little as possible. Below is a list of mistakes to avoid:
Making Admissions Against Interest
Following a car accident, it’s easy to panic and make a few careless remarks. These remarks can be used against you later when you make a claim and that’s why they are called admissions against interest. For example, you might say:
- It’s my fault I wasn’t looking at the road.
- I was on my phone
- I’m okay
- This car is old
Try as much as possible to stay calm after an accident. You should also stay alert to comments made by the other parties involved in the accident. If possible take detailed notes or even record a video. What they say might help you when you make your claim.
Don’t be Submissive to the Claims Adjuster
Set a business tone when talking to the adjuster and don’t be too friendly with them. When you go into a settlement negotiation meeting, you must be firm and stand by your story.
Don’t Record a Statement
The only time you should give a recorded statement is with an attorney present. Keep in mind that anything you say can be used against you or to limit the amount of compensation that you receive.
Don’t Let Your Guard Down
Adjusters are skilled at getting claimants to relax so that they can squeeze out as much information as they can from them. You should always be polite but be careful not to make statements that may be used against you.
Don’t Lie
Getting caught in even a very small lie throws your credibility out the window. Anything you say will therefore be treated suspiciously.
Don’t Give out Your Social Security Number
A claims adjuster can access so much information about you through your social security number. They might dig up information that might be used against you later.
Do not Admit to Pre-existing Injuries
This can set back your claim if you start discussing your pre-existing injuries with your adjuster too soon into the claims process. Get a doctor to evaluate your injuries first so that they can establish how the injuries are related to one another.
Don’t Exaggerate
Claims adjusters know when claimants are exaggerating. And even if the adjuster can’t tell whether you are exaggerating, you will have to keep doing it, which honestly can be a lot of work.
Don’t Answer All Questions
If you cannot remember something or you do not know the answer, then don’t answer the question. You can always answer later if the information is available. It’s much better to not answer a question than to give out incorrect information.
It Always Pays to have a Personal Injury Attorney
If your injuries were minor ones, you can negotiate for a settlement without an attorney. This is because soft injuries like sprains or bumps are usually straightforward. You will be compensated for the amount you spent in medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
As for severe car accident injuries, the cost of medical bills can be quite high and it can be quite expensive for an insurance company to compensate you the amount that you deserve. You should hire a car accident attorney to ensure you are fully compensated because insurance companies tend to lower the compensation amount for claimants that do not have attorney representation.
If you reside in Fall River, MA, and you are a victim of a car accident that wasn’t your fault, we can help. We offer free initial consultations and take on cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we only get paid if we win your case. Contact us today at 508-676-0001 to schedule your free initial consultation.
