Policyholders are led to believe that insurance companies will offer financial help to injured victims after a car accident but insurers frequently cheat victims out of what they are owed. Insurance is supposed to protect individuals from unexpected expenses when accidents happen.
No matter their reputation, how nice they are, or what they say, insurance companies are not there to look out for car accident victims. They are for-profit businesses and what concerns them most is looking after their own bottom line. When they pay out benefits after car accidents, they are losing out.
Claims adjusters often try to trick accident victims to minimize the liability of the insurance company. Victims often lose out on thousands of dollars they need to recover after a mishap because of shady moves by insurance companies. In the worst case scenario, victims are entirely denied compensation.
Common Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Trick Car Accident Victims
Many insurance companies will contact the victim right away after an accident, but they certainly aren’t looking out for the victim’s best interests. Victims are frequently targeted before they even have a chance to retain legal representation. Insurers do this to talk the victim into accepting a quick, low-ball settlement offer before the effects of the crash have really set in. And once the settlement is taken, the victim can’t go back for more money later.
For example, a woman was involved in a car accident where she sustained numerous injuries and it was apparent that the other driver was at fault. Although the other party was insured by a reputable insurance company, they attempted to get her to settle for a low-ball amount. When they called her shortly after the accident, they wanted her to settle for about $2,500 in addition to $3,500 for future medical needs. Based on the damages to her car and the serious injuries she sustained, she was likely entitled to substantially more money.
Other common tactics include:
- Minimizing claims for damages and medical expenses
- Attributing the injury to a “pre-existing” condition
- Not paying the claim and denying liability
- Misinforming the victim of the maximum policy coverage
- Requesting a recorded statement about the accident
- Dragging the case out for a very long time