We purchase auto insurance so that in the event that we are involved in an accident, our expenses will be covered. However, this is not commonly how it works. In fact, it can prove very difficult to obtain the needed settlement. Insurance companies have the goal of profiting and paying out large sums of money is counterproductive to such a goal. It is because of this that insurance companies will do whatever they can to prevent your recovery. Here are 7 common tricks that insurance companies will use to deny your claim.
1. They act like they really care.
Sometimes all we want is to feel as though others are in our corner. Insurance adjusters often take advantage of our vulnerabilities during an emotional time, encouraging our trust. Unfortunately, though, insurance companies are in the business of making money and paying you money is not aligned with this goal.
2. They use your own words against you.
An insurance adjuster may ask you for permission to record you for details of what happened. Unfortunately, many times they will later use your own words against you, often misconstruing what it was you meant. For this reason, it is important to understand that you are not obligated to speak with them about this without your attorney present and do not have to agree to be recorded.
3. They try to talk you out of hiring an attorney.
After your adjuster gains your trust, he or she may try to convince you that hiring an attorney is a bad idea, often citing the fact that you would have to share your settlement with them. However, what they fail to explain is that your settlement will commonly be a lot larger with the help of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney, who has plenty of experience negotiating with insurance companies. (The insurance company simply wants to minimize your recovery.)
4. They request all of your medical records.
This trick may seem somewhat reasonable. After all, you are claiming an injury, so they need to understand your medical history in order for you to recover, right? Wrong. The real reason that insurance companies often request all of your medical records is to look for a pre-existing condition that they can blame your current symptoms on and therefore minimize your financial recovery with them.
5. They offer a ‘simple’ deal.
When you are in the midst of dealing with the expenses associated with involvement in a car accident, you may feel desperate to get your hands on any finances that you can as soon as possible. This is what insurance companies play off of when they offer you a settlement for signing a release. However, once you sign this document you are no longer eligible to recovery for any new medical expenses. Since many injuries take a while to emerge after a car accident, you may be signing away potential money needed later on.
6. They continuously put you off.
By far one of the most irritating tricks that insurance companies engage in is stalling tactics. The insurance company may claim that your paperwork is in the middle of processing or that they are waiting on anything and everything. Their true purpose for doing so is to have you simply give up on your claim.
7. They attempt to make medical decisions for you.
Insurance companies wish to minimize your recovery. That’s why they may claim that certain medical treatments that you have received were unnecessary; that way they can disapprove of and not pay for them. However, it is important to understand that it is the job of your doctor to determine what medical treatments are necessary.
The Attorneys at Miller & Tischler, P.C. Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto vehicle accident, you should not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes.
The Michigan personal injury attorneys at Miller & Tischler, P.C. can help you to fight for the compensation that you deserve. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, contact us today!