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Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements

Jan 20

Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Pull Back The Curtain on Insurance Settlements

personal injury

 

Pulling Back The Curtain on Tactics Used By Insurance Companies to Reduce Settlements

You’ve heard the stories, a friend has been injured in an auto accident, a slip and fall injury, a workplace injury, all your friend wants is fair treatment from their insurance company. Sadly, insurance companies are not there to help, frequently fighting claims to avoid payouts. If you are not prepared before contacting your insurance company or meeting with an adjuster, you may very well walk away empty-handed. In this article, Phoenix personal injury lawyers provide tips and reveal common tactics used by insurance companies to minimize settlement claims. Before you discuss your claim with any insurance company, claims adjuster, or agent, you should be aware of the tricks insurance companies use to fight your personal injury claim and lower their payout. Some of the most common tactics are:

1. Blame the Victim

This is a common tactic. Don’t be surprised if the insurance claims adjuster attempts to shift the blame for the accident to you. Blaming the victim is a common tactic to avoid liability for a car accident or another personal injury. If the insurance company can convince a jury that you were partially, or completely, at fault, your compensation can be reduced by a proportionate amount. If the insurance company suggests you are partially at fault for your injury, hire a personal injury lawyer immediately.

2. Denial of Claim Due To Delayed Medical Care

Prompt medical care is essential for your personal injury claim. Discuss any symptoms with a doctor to ensure that injuries are documented for the claim. Failing to seek prompt medical care leaves the door open for the insurance company to argue your injuries were from a previous accident.

3. Delaying The Case

Dragging out the case benefits the insurance company. Dragging out the case delays the settlement, so delays put pressure on you for a quick settlement. But they may also attempt to delay the case to create a statute of limitations defense. In Arizona, the statute of limitations on personal injury cases is 2 years. For some situations, the statute of limitations may increase or decrease the time to file a claim. a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to avoid a problem.

4. Requiring Recorded or Written Statements

A claims adjuster may ask you to provide a written or recorded statement for the insurance company to process your claim. This common tactic is used to obtain information which may be against you to undervalue the claim. Your conversations with the insurance company are usually recorded whether they tell you or not. Anything you say may be used to deny your claim. Be careful what you say to insurance adjusters. Adjusters are working to protect the insurance company’s best interest not yours, regardless of what they tell you. It is not in your best interest to give a written or recorded statement without talking to a personal injury lawyer.

5. Requiring Access to Your Medical Records

Another common tactic is to request a medical records release to gather evidence that may be used to deny or lower the value of your claim. The adjuster might tell you in order to verify your injuries the insurance company must have copies of your medical records. It is highly probable that the insurance company will use the release to obtain copies of your entire medical history to search for prior injuries and argue that pre-existing conditions are responsible for your injury. It is unlawful for insurance companies to deny claims based on prior injuries or pre-existing conditions. Talk to a personal injury lawyer before signing any release forms.

6. Pressuring You For A Quick Settlement

The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement before you have a chance to consult with a car accident attorney. But the offer amount is probably much lower than the value of your claim. When you have been injured, it’s not in your interest to settle an injury claim before medical treatment is completed. The extent of your injuries may not be known until all medical treatment has been completed.

7. Discouraging You From Contacting an Attorney

You will likely be discouraged from consulting a personal injury lawyer by the Insurance Company. The claims adjuster may tell you the settlement does not require an attorney or that an attorney will take all the money. However, the truth is, most personal injury lawyers accept cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing, and having legal representation will probably increase the amount you receive from a settlement.

Don’t Negotiate With Insurance Companies Without a Lawyer

You may believe you can negotiate with your insurance company without a lawyer. However, hiring an lawyer could increase the amount of money you receive for your personal injury claim. An experienced attorney understands the damages available for an injury claim and how to maximize the value of your settlement. An estimated 91% of people who hire a personal injury lawyer won a settlement compared to just 51% who do not. In fact, the amount received could be 2-3 times more with an attorney negotiating the settlement. If you were injured due to negligence on the part of someone else in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re your insurance company is resisting a settlement, don’t go it alone. Call a car accident or personal injury lawyer.

What About Criminal, DUI, or Family Law Cases?

What’s the difference between personal injury lawyers and criminal defense or family law lawyers? Personal injury lawyers fight to get you paid, criminal defense and family law fight for your feedom. As a result, almost all personal injury lawyers will work on a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid when you do. There is no out of pocket expense to you Unfortunately, for almost all other practice areas you’ll most likely have to dig deep into your pockets. Since freedom is on the line and you most likely will pay dearly for it, you should make sure you find an attorney or lawyer experienced in the predicament you find yourself|If you are paying for it, you’ll want to find a best criminal defense lawyer, DUI lawyer, or family law or divorce lawyer that best suits your circumstances}. Below is a shortlist of area criminal defense, DUI, and family law attorneys in the Phoenix area to start your search.

Phoenix Legal News

Defense Lawyer Presentation

Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.