After a car accident, you’re bound to be contacted by multiple insurance companies. The representatives from these providers might seem friendly enough, but they aren’t your friend.
You have to be careful in your interactions with them. If you’re not, then you could end up losing out on the compensation you need to offset your losses and position yourself for a successful recovery.
With that in mind, let’s look at the top reasons why you shouldn’t trust an insurance company in the aftermath of your car accident.
Reasons why you shouldn’t trust an insurance company
You might feel like you’re protected by insurance coverage. You’ve diligently paid your premiums over time and now you expect that your insurance company as well as the errant driver’s insurance provider will step in with a helping hand, right?
Well, that may not be the case. Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t be too trusting of the insurance companies that you have to deal with after your car accident:
- Their motivations: Despite their marketing that gives the appearance that they’re in the business of helping people, the insurance company is really in the business of making money. The best way for them to do this is to collect premiums and pay out as little as possible in claims. Therefore, they’re going to look for any justifiable reason to diminish the value of your claim or deny it outright. Don’t be tricked by their friendly demeanor.
- They’ll try to find inconsistencies: To pay you as little as possible, the insurance company is going to look for inconsistencies in your statements. They might ask for a recorded statement so that they can lock you down on your account of the accident and your injuries, which they’ll then try to contradict and use against you later, perhaps to even show that you’re to blame for the accident. Avoid giving a recorded statement and stick to factual assertions if you have to answer any of the insurance company’s questions.
- They’ll minimize your injuries: Even if they appear to feel sorry for you at the outset, the insurance company will seek ways to minimize your claimed injuries. They might ask you to undergo additional evaluations, question your medical records, or even go so far as to surveil you to see if you’re acting in a way that doesn’t align with the severity of your claimed injuries. Make sure you have strong evidence that details the severity and extent of your accident injuries.
- They’ll lowball your settlement: The hope is that you can resolve your car accident case quickly while still recovering the compensation you need. But the insurance company will probably try to lowball you during settlement negotiations. Their attorneys will attempt to get you to doubt the strength of your claim, and they might indicate that they’ve only been authorized to pay so much for your case. Don’t give into their sly negotiation tactics.
Protect yourself when seeking compensation after a car accident
You only get one shot at recovering the compensation you need after an accident caused by a negligent driver.
So, before proceeding with your claim, be sure to gather all relevant evidence and anticipate how the process will play out so that you can identify any areas where mistakes could be made.
This foresight will give you an advantage so that you don’t make an avoidable mistake that’s costly to your claim.
We know dealing with the legalities of your situation can be stressful as you’re recovering from your accident injuries, but you can find help navigating the process as you push through to secure the future you want for yourself.
