If you’ve recently been in a car accident, there’s a good chance that you’re now dealing with an insurance company. This often becomes a frustrating back-and-forth of them denying their insured’s liability or making unreasonably low offers. Maybe you’re feeling pressured to accept an offer, and you’re not sure what to do. Because they are on a mission to pay you as little as possible, it’s always advisable that you consult a personal injury attorney before making any agreements regarding an insurance companies injury claim.
When personal injury victims aren’t aware of certain facts, insurance companies can take advantage and deny them the compensation they truly deserve. Here are a few secrets that they may be keeping from you.
1. Never accept the first offer.
When dealing with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, they may accept liability and offer you some money. You may be relieved that they didn’t put up a fight, and it can be tempting to accept their offer. What insurance companies don’t want you to know is that their first offer is far less than what they’re actually willing to pay. Remember, the insurance company’s goal is always to pay out as little as possible. The first offer is always a lowball one, and they’re hoping that you’ll accept it. Even if it sounds like a good deal, it’s always best to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer before putting pen to paper. Your attorney can determine how much your case is truly worth and push for full and fair compensation. We’ve handled several cases that ultimately settled for several times the initial offer. By not hiring an attorney, you may be leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
2. They won’t disclose policy limits.
The policy limit is the maximum amount that an insurer has agreed to pay out on behalf of their insured. Quite often, insurance companies will keep this figure to themselves. In the state of Kentucky, they are under no obligation to disclose this number prior to a lawsuit being filed. Still, a personal injury attorney can prepare a strongly worded demand letter to persuade them to reveal the policy limit. Having this information is extremely beneficial and allows your attorney to fight for the highest possible payout regarding an insurance companies injury claim.
3. You can still receive compensation even if they deny liability.
It can be very disappointing when the at-fault driver’s insurance company denies liability. You may feel angry and frustrated by their refusal to take responsibility for their insured’s negligence. You may even be led to believe that you don’t have a good case or you don’t stand a chance of receiving compensation. This is precisely what they want you to think!
An insurance company denying liability in the first instance doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be compensated. In many instances, insurance companies change their tune after receiving a demand letter from an attorney. While many people will give up after a denial of liability, a passionate personal injury attorney won’t take no for an answer. By hiring an attorney, you’re showing the insurance company that you’re serious about your claim – and that they need to take it seriously, too.
4. Filing a lawsuit can give you more bargaining power.
In the same way that hiring a lawyer improves your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve, filing a lawsuit can provide a lot of bargaining power. In many instances, insurance companies will play hardball. Sometimes, after several rounds of negotiations, they’re still making low offers or denying liability altogether. At this point, a personal injury attorney can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. This puts the insurance company in a difficult position. Now, they will need to cover the cost of litigation and defending the claim. This can force them to make a higher offer so that the matter can be settled out of court.
5. You don’t have to provide a statement.
After the accident has been reported involving an insurance companies injury claim, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may request a recorded statement from you. Without thinking, many car accident victims provide statements that only serve to harm their case further down the line. Insurance companies don’t want you to know that you are under absolutely no obligation to give a statement. In fact, we strongly advise against speaking to the other party’s insurance company without first consulting a personal injury lawyer.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you were injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver, it’s time to take action. Tate previously worked for several years on behalf of insurance companies, but for the last several years he has used this experience when negotiating with insurance companies to achieve maximum results involving an insurance companies injury claim for clients. Don’t wait. Call Tate!