Insurance companies might try to use improper settlement tactics to save their company money.
These tactics include:
- Delaying the processing of your claim
- Denying your claim without a valid reason
- Reducing your injury settlement
- Making you an insultingly low settlement offer
A personal injury attorney can help you understand when an insurance company is being fair or when they are trying to pay less without cause. . Our team can help you hold the insurance company, the liable party, and anyone else who shares culpability for your damages accountable so you can reach a fair settlement.
Common Settlement Tactics Insurers Use to Devalue or Deny Claims
Insurance adjusters are looking out for their bottom line because they want to protect their company’s profit margins wherever possible. This means they might try to use unethical tactics to get you to settle for less compensation than you might deserve.
Some improper settlement tactics to watch out for include:
Delaying the Processing of Your Claim
Insurance companies and other liable parties might take advantage of injury victims by delaying the processing of their accident claims. When you pursue a claim with the insurance company, it is up to the insurance adjuster to do their due diligence, investigate, and ensure that the claim is processed in a timely manner.
If the insurance company delays processing your claim without reason, you have legal options. You may be able to take action against the company to hold it accountable for its financial obligations.
Denying Your Claim in Bad Faith
When an insurance company or adjuster denies your request for compensation and benefits in bad faith, you may be able to hold them accountable. An insurance company could be accused of denying your claim in bad faith if the reason it denied it was to further its own financial interests.
Some examples of bad faith denials include:
- Denying a claim without giving a reason
- Refusing to pay out on a valid claim
- Offering significantly less than the claim is worth
- Failing to investigate the claim on time
- Threatening the claimant
Reducing Your Injury Settlement
The liable party may try to get away with reducing your injury settlement or denying your claim altogether. When possible, the insurance company may try to push responsibility for the accident onto another party. For example, if you were involved in a car accident caused by the insurer’s client, the insurance company may say that a faulty vehicle component or unsafe road caused the crash.
Insurance companies often l look for opportunities to reduce their financial responsibilities. If the insurer can successfully argue that someone else is to blame for your injuries, your ability to recover your damages could be at risk.
Making You a Lowball Offer
Insurance companies sometimes make insultingly low settlement offers. Lowball offers happen when the insurance company has reviewed your case and recognizes that your damages are worth substantially more.
Insurance companies believe they can tempt you into accepting less than your claim is worth to reduce their financial liability. If your claim is worth more than you’re being offered, your attorney can help you demand fair compensation or bring your case to trial to try to recover your damages in full.
How to Protect Yourself from Improper Settlement Tactics
It can be tricky to work with insurers on your own, especially when they use improper tactics to get you to settle for less than you deserve. A lawyer can help you protect yourself from the insurance company. Having an attorney work on your case can go a long way in showing the insurance company how seriously you are taking your right to compensation and damages.
In many cases, simply getting an attorney involved is enough to get the insurance company to settle your claim fairly. An attorney from our firm negotiate with the insurer on your behalf to make sure you’re being offered fair compensation.
See How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You
The insurance claims process and dealing with the liable party can often be overwhelming. You shouldn’t have to worry about improper settlement tactics on top of the stress your injuries might be causing. A personal injury attorney at the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can advocate for your rights.
Our team can help you ensure liability is evaluated accurately and the liable party is held accountable. Our founder, Jim Parrish, used to represent insurance companies so he knows the tactics they may use to pay you less than you deserve. He knows what to expect and how to fight back. See how the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC team can help you today. Contact us for a FREE claim review.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form
