Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Avoid Giving You Full Value for Your Injury and Collision Claim

When you’ve been involved in a car accident, one of the first steps you’ll take is to file a claim with the insurance company to seek compensation for your injuries and property damage. However, what many people don’t realize is that insurance companies are businesses, and their main goal is to minimize payouts to protect their profits. This means that they may use a variety of tactics to avoid giving you the full value of your injury and collision claim.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the common tactics that insurance companies use to reduce or deny your claim and explain how you can protect yourself to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. If you need help with your car accident claim, contact Collision Claim Lawyers at (800) 900-3868 for expert legal assistance.

1. Offering a Low Initial Settlement

One of the most common tactics insurance companies use is to offer a low initial settlement soon after the accident. They may hope that you will accept the offer quickly, without fully understanding the extent of your injuries or the damage to your vehicle. Insurance adjusters often present these low offers as a way to “settle quickly” and avoid further hassle, but the amount they offer is usually far less than what your claim is actually worth.

Why This Happens:

The insurance company knows that you may be under financial stress after an accident, especially if you’re dealing with medical bills, car repairs, or lost wages. By offering a quick settlement, they hope to resolve the claim before you have a chance to calculate the true value of your damages.

How to Protect Yourself:

Never accept the first settlement offer without fully assessing the extent of your injuries and property damage. Take your time to gather all necessary documentation, including medical records, repair estimates, and evidence of lost wages. If you’re unsure about the value of your claim, consult with a car accident lawyer who can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

2. Disputing Liability

Another tactic insurance companies often use is disputing who is at fault for the accident. Even if it seems clear that the other driver caused the accident, the insurance company may try to argue that you were partially or fully responsible. By disputing liability, they can reduce the amount they have to pay for your claim.

Why This Happens:

Insurance companies know that if they can prove you were partially at fault for the accident, they can lower your compensation under comparative negligence laws. In some states, if you’re found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, you may be barred from recovering any compensation at all.

How to Protect Yourself:

To protect yourself from disputed liability, it’s important to gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident. This includes taking photos of the damage, collecting witness statements, and obtaining a copy of the police report. If the insurance company tries to dispute liability, having solid evidence will help strengthen your case.

3. Delaying the Claims Process

Insurance companies sometimes delay the claims process in hopes that you’ll become frustrated and settle for a lower amount. These delays can be especially frustrating if you’re waiting for compensation to pay for medical bills, car repairs, or other expenses related to the accident.

Why This Happens:

By delaying the process, the insurance company may pressure you into accepting a lower settlement just to resolve the claim more quickly. They may also be hoping that you will give up on pursuing the claim altogether.

How to Protect Yourself:

If the insurance company is dragging its feet on your claim, don’t be afraid to follow up regularly. Keep detailed records of all communication, including phone calls and emails, and document any missed deadlines. If the delays continue, consider hiring a lawyer who can push the insurance company to act and ensure that your claim is handled in a timely manner.

4. Requesting Unnecessary Documentation

In some cases, insurance companies may request an excessive amount of documentation to support your claim. While it’s normal to provide medical records, repair estimates, and evidence of lost wages, the insurance company may ask for additional records that aren’t relevant to your claim in an effort to delay or deny your payout.

Why This Happens:

The insurance company may be trying to overwhelm you with paperwork or find discrepancies in your records to reduce or deny your claim. They may also be hoping that you’ll become frustrated with the process and accept a lower settlement just to avoid further delays.

How to Protect Yourself:

Make sure you provide the necessary documentation to support your claim, but don’t feel pressured to provide unnecessary records. If the insurance company’s requests seem excessive or unrelated to your claim, consult with a lawyer to ensure you’re not being taken advantage of.

5. Downplaying Your Injuries

After a car accident, it’s common for insurance companies to downplay the severity of your injuries in order to reduce the amount they have to pay. They may argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim or that they were pre-existing conditions that weren’t caused by the accident.

Why This Happens:

Medical bills are one of the largest expenses in a car accident claim, and the insurance company wants to minimize these costs as much as possible. By downplaying your injuries, they can offer a lower settlement and avoid paying for long-term medical treatment or rehabilitation.

How to Protect Yourself:

To protect yourself from this tactic, seek medical attention immediately after the accident and follow all of your doctor’s recommendations for treatment. Keep detailed records of your medical visits, treatments, and prescriptions, and document any symptoms you experience. If the insurance company disputes the severity of your injuries, having thorough medical documentation will help support your claim.

6. Using Your Statements Against You

When you file a claim, the insurance company will likely ask for a recorded statement about the accident. While this may seem like a routine part of the process, anything you say in this statement can be used against you later. Insurance companies may take your words out of context or twist them to suggest that you were at fault or that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim.

Why This Happens:

The insurance company is looking for any reason to reduce or deny your claim, and your statement can provide them with the ammunition they need. Even innocent comments like “I’m feeling fine” can be used to argue that your injuries aren’t severe.

How to Protect Yourself:

Be cautious when giving a statement to the insurance company. Stick to the facts and avoid making any statements about your health or fault for the accident. It’s a good idea to consult with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to ensure you don’t say anything that could harm your claim.

7. Claiming You Waited Too Long to Seek Medical Treatment

Insurance companies may argue that you waited too long to seek medical treatment after the accident, which can be used as a reason to deny or reduce your claim. They may claim that if you were truly injured, you would have sought treatment immediately.

Why This Happens:

Insurance companies use this tactic to suggest that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident or that they aren’t as serious as you claim. By questioning the timing of your medical treatment, they can cast doubt on the legitimacy of your claim.

How to Protect Yourself:

Even if you don’t feel injured immediately after the accident, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some injuries, such as whiplash or internal injuries, may not show symptoms right away but can become more serious if left untreated. By seeing a doctor promptly, you can document your injuries and ensure that they are connected to the accident.

8. Offering a Quick Settlement Before You Know the Full Extent of Your Injuries

Insurance companies may try to offer a quick settlement before you’ve had time to fully assess the extent of your injuries. This tactic is especially common in cases where the injuries may require ongoing treatment or rehabilitation, as the insurance company wants to avoid paying for long-term medical care.

Why This Happens:

By offering a quick settlement, the insurance company hopes to close the claim before you realize the full cost of your medical expenses. Once you accept a settlement, you typically waive your right to pursue further compensation, even if your injuries worsen over time.

How to Protect Yourself:

Before accepting any settlement, make sure you’ve fully evaluated your medical condition and consulted with your doctor about your long-term prognosis. If your injuries are serious or require ongoing treatment, it’s best to wait until you have a clear understanding of your medical needs before settling your claim.

9. Arguing That Your Vehicle Damage Isn’t as Severe as Claimed

In addition to downplaying your injuries, insurance companies may also argue that your vehicle damage isn’t as severe as claimed. They may offer a low estimate for repairs or argue that your vehicle was already damaged before the accident.

Why This Happens:

By minimizing the extent of the vehicle damage, the insurance company can offer a lower settlement for repairs or avoid paying for the full cost of a replacement vehicle.

How to Protect Yourself:

After the accident, get a repair estimate from a trusted mechanic or auto body shop, and provide detailed photos of the damage to your vehicle. If the insurance company’s estimate seems too low, you have the right to negotiate or seek a second opinion.

10. Blaming You for Delaying the Claims Process

Finally, insurance companies may try to blame you for delaying the claims process. They may argue that you failed to provide the necessary documentation or that you didn’t file the claim in a timely manner. This can be used as an excuse to reduce your compensation or deny your claim entirely.

Why This Happens:

Insurance companies are required to process claims within a certain timeframe, but they may try to shift the blame onto you to avoid paying the full value of your claim. By arguing that you caused delays, they can justify offering a lower settlement.

How to Protect Yourself:

Make sure to provide all necessary documentation promptly and keep detailed records of all communication with the insurance company. If you feel that the insurance company is unfairly blaming you for delays, consult with a lawyer who can help ensure your claim is handled properly.

Conclusion

Insurance companies often use a variety of tactics to avoid giving you the full value of your injury and collision claim, from offering low settlements to disputing liability and downplaying your injuries. By understanding these tactics and knowing how to protect yourself, you can increase your chances of receiving fair compensation for your losses.

If you’re dealing with an insurance company after a car accident and need help navigating the claims process, contact Collision Claim Lawyers at (800) 900-3868 for expert legal advice and representation. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping accident victims recover the compensation they deserve. Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you—reach out to us today for a free consultation.