After a serious injury, you might expect insurance companies to help you get back on your feet. Unfortunately, that’s rarely how things work. Insurance companies make money by paying out as little as possible on claims. When you file a personal injury claim, their adjusters often use tactics designed to reduce what they owe you or deny your claim entirely.
Understanding this reality can help you protect yourself. Insurance adjusters may seem friendly and concerned about your well-being, but their job is to save their company money. They receive training in strategies that minimize payouts, and they use these methods every day.
What Tricks Do Insurance Companies Use?
Insurance companies have many ways to undervalue or deny legitimate claims, such as:
- Contacting you quickly after an injury and asking for a recorded statement (They may present this as routine paperwork, but anything you say can be used to question your claim later.)
- Trying to get you to accept a quick settlement before you fully understand the extent of your injuries
- Delaying your claim by requesting unnecessary paperwork or scheduling appointments weeks or months away (This strategy creates financial pressure that may force you to accept less money than you deserve.)
- Downplaying your injuries, suggesting that your pain isn’t as severe as you claim, or that your medical treatment is excessive
- Denying responsibility entirely, even when the evidence clearly shows their policyholder was at fault
- Investigating your social media accounts, looking for photos or posts they can use to argue that you’re not really injured
How Can You Protect Yourself From These Tactics?
The most important step you can take is to seek medical attention immediately after an injury. Doing so creates a clear record that connects your injuries to the incident. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies ammunition to argue that your injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the incident at all.
You should also keep detailed records of everything related to your case. Save copies of medical bills, prescription receipts, and any communication with insurance companies. If an adjuster calls you, write down the date, time, and what was discussed. These records can become valuable evidence if the insurance company later disputes your claim.
Don’t give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal guidance. You have no obligation to provide one, and anything you say can be taken out of context or used against you. Similarly, never accept the first settlement offer. Initial offers are almost always far lower than what your claim is truly worth.
Finally, avoid posting about your injury or daily activities on social media. Even an innocent post can be misinterpreted and used to argue that your injuries aren’t severe.
When Should You Get Legal Help?
Serious injury cases involve complex medical issues, substantial financial stakes, and insurance companies with teams of lawyers working to minimize payouts. Handling these cases on your own puts you at a significant disadvantage. An experienced attorney will know the strategies insurance companies use and can protect you from them.
A lawyer will handle all communication with insurance adjusters, gather evidence to support your claim, and consult with medical experts who can explain the full extent of your injuries. They can also calculate the actual value of your claim, including future medical expenses and other long-term costs you might not have considered.
Contact Us Today
If you’ve suffered a serious injury, the team at DeLuca, Weizenbaum, Barry & Revens, Ltd., can help. With over 40 years of experience handling complex injury cases, our attorneys have the resources and knowledge to stand up to even the largest insurance companies. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t pay anything unless we recover compensation for you. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation.