Car accident victims can be vulnerable for many reasons. Not only are they injured and possibly in pain, but they could also start to feel desperate for compensation because they cannot work, and they have expensive medical bills. If there is one party that knows this, it is the auto insurance company of the at-fault driver. This is one of the things that is working in their favor. Injury victims who are desperate for money may be more likely to take whatever the insurance company offers. The goal of the insurance company is to either avoid paying compensation or get the victim to accept a lowball offer. That is why they often mislead crash victims. Below, our Austin auto accident lawyers have compiled a list of some of the misleading things car insurance companies often tell victims after a crash. It is important to be suspicious of these kinds of statements because the insurance company’s interests are not aligned with yours.
1. ‘We Are on Your Side.’
Insurance companies may not even need to say this to crash victims, their advertising does this daily. They may tell you they want to get the situation resolved as soon as possible and act like your friend. They might call you regularly and say they are “just checking in to see how you are doing.” Insurance companies do these kinds of things to get you to let your guard down and relax. The insurance company hopes this will make it more likely that you will say something that hurts your claim or take a lowball settlement offer.2. ‘Lawyers Will Take Most of Your Settlement.’
Insurance companies would like to convince you they are on your side and lawyers are not. That is why they may say hiring a lawyer is a bad idea because the lawyer will take a large amount of any settlement you receive. They are hoping victims will not even bother investigating further or asking attorneys how much they charge. It is important to note these kinds of statements are often not true. Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC, like many other personal injury law firms, works on contingency. That means there is no upfront fee for our services and no fee while we work on your case. We are not paid unless you get paid and we discuss this issue in detail before taking on a case.3. ‘You May Not Get Any Money if You Reject an Offer.’
Statements like this are an attempt to get you to accept a lowball offer that does not come close to providing the compensation you need for future medical treatment. Insurance companies are trying to get you to make a quick decision without putting too much thought into it. Unfortunately, victims are vulnerable and might believe the insurance company. You may not be able to pay your medical bills and you have lost income because you have not been able to work as much as before. It is important to discuss the accident with a licensed attorney because an attorney’s goal is to obtain maximum compensation. An experienced lawyer should tell you the first offer is often just the beginning of the negotiating process. You can make a counteroffer and the insurance company, and your attorney, may go back and forth multiple times.4. ‘We Need a Recorded Statement.’
If the insurance company obtains a recording of you making statements about the accident, the value of your claim will be limited by this statement. You also run the risk of saying something that is later contradicted by your own statements or evidence obtained by the insurance company. You may be concerned about these things but think you are required to provide a recorded statement when asked by the insurance company. However, this may not be true, and you should discuss the situation with an attorney. If you need to provide a recorded statement, your attorney can help you ensure you statement helps preserve the full value of your claim. The insurance company is trying to rush you, but there is no need to rush. You need maximum compensation to recover from your injuries and prevent this situation from turning into a financial catastrophe for you and your family.5. ‘We Need to See All Your Medical Records.’
This statement is not entirely misleading, as the insurance company may need to see these records to determine what it is willing to offer for your damages. However, they do not need to see all your records. They only need to see the records that apply to your accident injuries. If you give the insurance company access to all your records, they will look for information on an existing illness and say you are receiving treatment for that illness. Using caution with what you tell the insurance company and what you allow them to see is important for protecting your claim.Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC has been helping crash victims recover compensation for 20 years. We have helped victims of many kinds of crashes and are prepared to go to court to recover maximum compensation. We operate on contingency, which means no upfront fees. Our lawyers are not paid unless our clients get paid.Licensed. Local. Lawyers. Phone: 512-477-7333.
