Common Tricks Used By Insurance Companies After An Accident
Insurance companies are supposed to help and support you after an accident, but the truth is that insurers are businesses who are out to make as much money as possible. This means minimizing your claims and making them disappear as quickly as possible in order to save money for the company. There are many tricks that an insurance company may use after your accident, and hiring a qualified personal injury attorney to handle your case is the best way to ensure that you are receiving full and fair compensation for your claim. To learn more, call or contact Mitch Grissim & Associates today to schedule a free consultation.
“Accepting Liability”
One of the most common tricks used by insurance companies is to tell accident victims that they accept liability for the claim. They will tell a victim to get medical treatment and to send them the bill. However, once the bills are submitted the insurer will only agree to pay for part of the cost, and at that point it may be too late to hire a lawyer.
Quick Settlement Offers
Another trick used by insurers is to offer a quick settlement within days of the initial accident. This offer may look good to an accident victim who is facing substantial medical bills and lost wages, but in actuality these offers are always worth far less than what the victim is truly owed for their injuries claim. Victims discover too late that the early settlement offer was not enough to cover their costs and are often left in a financial lurch.
Arbitrary Deadlines
Insurance companies will sometimes create arbitrary deadlines for victims where they must accept a settlement by a specific date or lose the opportunity altogether. This is their attempt at scaring victims into accepting offers worth far less than their claims before they have a chance to calculate the true cost of their damages or speak with a lawyer about the case. You should never accept an arbitrary deadline before medical treatment is completed for accident injuries.
Blaming Injuries on Preexisting Conditions
Another trick used by insurance companies is to blame injuries caused by an accident on preexisting medical conditions or prior injuries. This usually occurs after they ask a victim to sign a general medical authorization that allows the insurer to review all medical treatment the victim has ever undergone. You do not have to release your medical records to the insurance company after an accident.
Denying Liability by Diverting Fault
Finally, an insurance company may try to avoid paying for a victim’s claim by denying liability and blaming others, including the victim, for causing the accident. As a modified comparative fault state, those responsible for an accident can have their damages reduced, and if a party is found to be more than fifty percent at fault they can be barred completely from collecting compensation.
Talk to Our Office
To avoid the tricks that insurance companies use after an accident, you need an experienced Nashville personal injury attorney handling your case. Call or contact Mitch Grissim & Associates today to learn more.
