More than 7,000 insurance companies receive approximately $1 trillion in paid premiums every year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Because insurance companies are businesses, their primary concern is making money. The less they pay out in claims, the more money they make every year. Unfortunately, this means many insurance companies use trickery to avoid paying fairly on claims.
Tricks of the Trade
The main job of an insurance adjuster is to find ways to pay you less or not at all on your accident claim. The following are common strategies insurance companies might use to deny or delay your claim:
- Surveillance. Insurance companies often send investigators to watch claimants in order to obtain evidence that can be used to avoid paying out on a claim. For example, if an insurance company investigator sees you carrying some groceries at the store, they might try to say your back injury isn’t legitimate.
- Recordings. Insurance adjusters sometimes record conversations and ask tricky questions in an attempt to trip up a claimant. Often, insurance companies can take words you say, twist them, take them out of context, and use them as a reason not to compensate you.
- False comfort. If you’ve ever spoken with an insurance adjustor, you know how polite, kind, and empathetic she can seem. However, it’s important to remember the ultimate goal: save the insurance company money. The adjuster might say she's on your side and wants to help you—and that the company wants you to get the money you deserve—but she's only trying to loosen your lips about the car accident.
- Disputes on injuries and coverage. It’s important to know exactly what your policy covers when you speak to your insurance company. If you’re not certain, a representative might try to say your injuries and accident were not covered under your policy.
- Discouraging you from hiring a lawyer. Lawyers know the tricks insurance adjustors use—so when you mention you want to hire a lawyer, an adjustor will do everything in his power to keep that from happening. He may try to tell you that the process takes much longer and becomes significantly more complicated if a lawyer gets involved. Ultimately, the adjuster knows a lawyer will be more likely to recover fair compensation for you, which affects the company's bottom line.
We Can Help
If you’ve been involved in an accident and now feel nervous fielding calls from insurance companies, we can help. Don’t fall for the tricks; hiring a lawyer gives you a better shot at the compensation you deserve after your accident. The experienced team at Tavss Fletcher is ready to take the calls for you and help you support your claim. Start an online live chat with us to get started today.
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