5 Things Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know

You’ve been injured in a crash, and now you’re trying to figure out how to get the compensation you’re owed. Unfortunately, it’s turning out to be far more complicated than you thought. The insurance company isn’t answering your calls, or perhaps the first offer they’ve given you won’t even cover your ambulance ride. The insurance industry is full of unspoken rules and agreements, and unless you’re familiar with them, you’ll walk away with way less than you deserve.

Hiring a personal injury attorney for your claim is one way to seek compensation without the insurance company taking advantage of you. Call Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short at 334-821-3892 to set up a consultation now.

1. You Aren’t Their First Priority

You’re the victim of an accident. This is the exact reason that people carry insurance—they don’t want to be stuck paying out of pocket if they cause a crash. It makes sense, then, to expect the liable party’s company to give you a fair settlement for their client’s actions. Unfortunately, that isn’t how it goes. You aren’t their priority.

Even their own client isn’t their priority. The main goal of insurance companies is to enrich their shareholders and executives, and they do this by paying the bare minimum on claims. That’s if they have to pay out on a claim. If they can, they just deny claims outright. If you want to get on their radar, you’ll need to fight hard.

2. Their Policies Are Intentionally Obscure

Insurance policies are dense, wordy, and full of repetitive language. This isn’t a mistake. People are unlikely to read the fine print when they’re signing legal documentation, and the longer a document is, the less likely they are to read it.

Insurance companies know that consumers just listen to their agent’s overview, decide whether or not the policy suits them, and sign. When they actually have to file a claim, they don’t know what to look for in the policy documentation. Companies have every opportunity to sneak in ridiculous exemptions that let them deny even more claims.

3. Adjusters Have a Lot of Leeway in How They Handle Claims

There are limits to how adjusters can handle the claims that land on their desks, but not as many as you would think. They are given quite a bit of leeway as long as they stay legal and have an acceptable amount of denied and underpaid claims.

Don’t assume that what they’re telling you is in your best interest or even necessarily true. What they’re saying is what they believe will encourage you to accept a settlement offer or what they think will cause you to disclose information that hurts your claim. The insurance adjuster is not your friend, so don’t trust them.

4. Hiring an Attorney Actually is in Your Best Interest

Your claim is going nowhere. The adjuster is dodging your arguments and sticking to their first claim, which is frankly too low to consider. You mention an attorney and suddenly they’re interested again. They have a dozen reasons that you don’t need an attorney. Their offer is really all they can offer; their hands are tied; if you hire an attorney, you’ll get the same offer but have to pay a percentage to the lawyer.

Again, don’t take advice from the people who are committed to taking advantage of you. Hiring an attorney is very likely to lead to a better settlement offer and a quicker settlement. They’re the only ones who are at a disadvantage when you seek legal representation.

5. Documentation is Your Best Friend

An accident doesn’t just come down to their word versus yours. Evidence and documentation go a long way when it comes to holding the insurance company accountable and forcing a fair settlement. Take pictures, keep copies of records and bills, and give copies of everything to your attorney.

Considering a Claim? Call Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short

Don’t rely on insurance adjusters to help you navigate the process of seeking compensation. They aren’t there for you, and you stand to lose a lot of money. Instead, turn to the team at Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short. Call our team at 334-821-3892 or contact us online to schedule your consultation now.