Posted on Monday, February 15th, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Insurance companies are in business to make money. Paying large personal injury claims is contradictory to that objective; therefore, insurance companies try everything within their power to limit their liability. Insurance companies train their insurance adjusters to use certain tactics designed to obtain information that can be used against you to lower the amount of compensation the insurance company must pay for your personal injury claim. Below are three of the most popular tactics used by insurance adjusters in personal injury cases.
Tactic Number 1: Medical Releases
The insurance adjuster may tell you that you need to sign a medical release so that the insurance company can verify your injuries before it can make payment to you or to your medical providers. You should never sign a medical release or any paperwork without first consulting a personal injury attorney. In most cases, the medical release allows the insurance company to obtain copies of all of your medical records from all healthcare providers.
The insurance company will search for pre-existing medical conditions it can use to argue your current injuries are not related to the accident or it will argue your current injuries are only as severe as they are due to a pre-existing condition. The insurance company is searching for any information it can use against you to lower the amount of compensation it must pay for your personal injury claim.
Tactic Number 2: Discussing Your Injuries
Insurance adjusters will try to get you to discuss your injuries as soon as possible following an accident. The insurance adjuster would like to get you to discuss your injuries prior to seeing a medical professional. You may not be aware of the full extent of your injuries; therefore, you could say something that could be used against you later in your case. Furthermore, the insurance adjuster is not a medical professional. The adjuster is not qualified to determine if you need to seek additional medical attention. The only people you should discuss your injuries with are your personal injury attorney and your physician.
Tactic Number 3: Statements
The insurance adjuster will ask you to make a written and/or recorded statement so that you can tell your side of the story and the adjuster can get the facts of the case. This is NOT in your best interest. Never provide a statement without consulting with an attorney first. You ae not legally obligated to provide a statement to an insurance adjuster. Adjusters are trained to ask question that may lead you to make statements that could hurt your personal injury claim. An innocent answer on your part could be misinterpreted or misconstrued in favor of the insurance company. An adjuster may try to lead you to give answer that hurt your case. Talk to an attorney first!
Have You Been Injured in an Accident? Is an Insurance Adjuster Contacting You for a Statement?
Do not fall for tactics used by insurance adjusters. Contact the Sacramento personal injury attorneys of the Tiemann Law Firm for a free consultation by calling (916) 999-9000 or chatting with a representative on our website. The insurance company for the at-fault party does not have your best interest as its priority — we do. Our attorneys will protect your right to receive a fair and just settlement for your personal injury claim.
