An injury accident can be a devastating experience. It often leads to physical and emotional distress and unwanted battles with insurance companies. As you navigate doctor’s visits and your recovery, the last thing you need is to deal with insurance agents and their frustrating tactics. The good news is you don’t have to. The best way to fight unscrupulous insurance company tactics is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.
The Dominguez Firm has successfully battled insurance company tactics for over 30 years. Our personal injury attorneys can safeguard your right to fair compensation and help put your life back together again. Call The Dominguez Firm for a free consultation at (800)818-1818 today.
Understanding Insurance Company Policies in Personal Injury Claims
Insurance policies are supposed to help injury victims receive the compensation they deserve, but the claims process can be difficult to navigate. It’s important to understand the different types of insurance policies that may come into play in a personal injury case.
- The at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy would typically cover your damages if you were injured in a car accident.
- If you were injured on someone else’s property, their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy would cover your expenses.
- If you have insurance policies, such as health or disability insurance, they may provide coverage for some of your costs, such as for a pedestrian accident.
When it comes to insurance companies, realize they are for-profit businesses. Their primary goal is minimizing their financial exposure and protecting their bottom line. They often use tactics to reduce the money they pay in claims. This can include disputing the severity of your injuries, trying to blame you for the accident, or pressuring you to accept a low settlement offer.
To protect your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation, working with an experienced personal injury attorney is essential. They can help you understand your legal rights and options, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and take legal action if necessary to secure the compensation you deserve.
The Sneakiest Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Undermine Your Claim
Here are some of the sneakiest tactics that insurance companies use to undermine personal injury claims:
Telling you that you don’t need a lawyer: Insurance adjusters will often try to convince you that you don’t need a lawyer to handle your personal injury claim. They may say that a lawyer will only make things more complicated and expensive. However, the truth is that an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. A lawyer will know how to navigate the insurance claims process and fight for your rights. They will also be able to protect you from the insurance company’s sneaky tactics.
Denying liability: Even if the evidence clearly shows that the other driver was at fault, the insurance company may try to deny liability. This is a common tactic that insurance companies use to try to avoid paying out a settlement. If the insurance company denies liability, you may need to file a lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve.
Making a lowball offer: The insurance company will likely offer you a settlement that is much lower than what you are entitled to. They hope you will accept this low offer out of desperation or ignorance. Do not accept the insurance company’s first offer. Get an attorney to review the offer and negotiate on your behalf.
Delaying your claim: The insurance company may delay your claim by requesting unnecessary paperwork or by refusing to schedule a medical examination. This can be frustrating and stressful, and it can also make it more difficult to get the compensation you deserve. If the insurance company is delaying your claim, contact an attorney. They can help you speed up the process and fight for a just compensation on your behalf.
Claiming your injuries are not serious: The insurance company may try to claim your injuries are not serious to justify a low settlement offer. However, even if your injuries are not life-threatening, they can still be very serious and have a significant impact on your life. Do not let the insurance company downplay your injuries. Get an attorney to help you document your injuries and get the compensation you deserve.
Trying to get you to sign a release: A release is a document that gives up your right to sue the insurance company. Do not sign any release that the insurance company presents to you without first consulting with an attorney. An attorney can help you understand the terms of the release and protect your rights.
Trying to get a recorded statement from you: Some insurance companies will try to get a recorded statement from you. This is a way for them to get information about your claim that they can use against you. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company without first consulting with an attorney. An attorney can help you protect your rights and avoid saying anything that could hurt your case.
If you were injured in an accident, it’s important you know the sneaky tactics insurance companies use. By knowing this information, you can protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
Tips That Can Help You Combat Insurance Company Tactics After an Accident:
Get medical attention right away. This is important for your health and also to document your injuries. If you wait, the insurance company will say your injuries couldn’t have been that serious if you delayed seeking medical attention. They may even say your injury wasn’t caused by your accident.
Have copies of all medical records and bills. Your personal injury attorney will keep track of all your medical records and bills, but you should keep backup copies too.
If you’ve communicated with the insurance company, keep a record of it. This includes phone calls, emails, and letters. You may have emailed or texted an adjuster before calling a personal injury lawyer. Keep all records and show them to your attorney.
Hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. This is the most important tip; hire a personal injury lawyer right away. A lawyer can help you navigate the insurance claims process and fight for the compensation you deserve. Don’t wait to hire them, do it immediately.
After an accident, it is important to hire a personal injury lawyer with experience. It may be tempting to hire a friend or family member who is an attorney, but if they have no experience handling accident injury cases, they may not get you the compensation you need. Just as you wouldn’t go to a pediatrician for a toothache, don’t hire a tax attorney to represent you for your personal injury claim.
What a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Do for You
Personal injury lawyers also know how to navigate the claims process effectively. Evidence documentation and claim filing are essential to securing a fair settlement for your damages and injuries. Filing a claim is very complicated for the average person. It’s even worse if they’re seriously injured or don’t speak English as a first language. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney can greatly improve your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve. They can help you negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company and, if necessary, represent you in court.
Gather Evidence
One of the most important ways a personal injury lawyer can help is by gathering evidence. This evidence strengthens your case and establishes the other party’s fault. Strong evidence can also make the insurance company offer you a fair settlement instead of playing games. Your personal injury lawyer will gather the following important documents to help build a solid case for you:
- Police report
- Medical records and bills
- Witness contact information and statements
- Pictures of the accident scene, damages, and injuries
- Insurance policies of both parties
- Repair estimates
- Any other form of evidence that you believe can support your clai
Detailed and Up-to-Date Knowledge of the Law
Hiring a personal injury attorney with detailed and up-to-date knowledge of the law can give you peace of mind knowing that your case is in the best possible hands. An experienced attorney will be familiar with the latest legal developments and be able to navigate the complex legal system on your behalf. They will also be current on any important changes to personal injury law and how it can benefit their client’s case.
Access to Accident Experts
A full-service personal injury law firm has access to a wide variety of accident experts who can help present your claim in the strongest light possible. Most people don’t have this type of network at their disposal if they’re handling their case themselves and you can be sure insurance companies will use it against them.
Negotiate a Settlement
Your personal injury lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. They have the experience and knowledge to get you the best possible settlement offer, and insurance companies know this.
Go to Court if Needed
If the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer, your personal injury lawyer will not be afraid to go to court for you if needed. Note that most personal injury claims settle before going to court, but it can happen.
Make sure the attorney you hire works for a personal injury law firm like The Dominguez Firm. One that has the resources and personnel to go to court for you. Not all of them do, which means they’ll settle for less to close out your case and save money.
Potential Legitimate Roadblocks That Can Delay Receiving Compensation
While delaying your claim is a common insurance company tactic, some issues can legitimately delay matters:
- Disputes on who is at fault
- Complex cases, such as truck accidents involving federal and state laws
- If the responsible party has limited insurance coverage
- If there were multiple parties involved
You Can Afford to Hire The Dominguez Firm for Your Personal Injury Claim
The Dominguez Firm works on a contingency basis, which means we get paid a percentage of your final settlement or verdict. This percentage will be clearly stated in the representation agreement you sign when you become our client. We understand that you are going through a difficult time after an injury, and we want to make sure that you can afford to get the legal help you need. And if there is no recovery, there is no fee. You truly have nothing to lose by hiring us.
Contrary to what their commercials show, insurance companies are not your friend. They are in the business of making money, and they will do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. This can include denying your claim, lowballing you on a settlement offer, or trying to get you to sign a release that gives up your rights.
The Dominguez Firm will fight for you against the insurance company. We will not let them take advantage of you. We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and get you the compensation you deserve.
Not Hiring Us Can Cost You Dearly
If you don’t hire an attorney, you will be at a major disadvantage in dealing with the insurance company. You may not know all your legal rights and will probably have trouble negotiating effectively with the insurance company. This could cost you very dearly in the end.
Not hiring a personal injury lawyer could even prevent you from getting any compensation. If the insurance company denies your claim, you will have no way to appeal the decision without an attorney.
Work with The Dominguez Firm: Protect Your Rights and Avoid Insurance Company Tactics
In addition to receiving expert legal advice and guidance when dealing with insurance companies, working with a personal injury lawyer also provides another important benefit: peace of mind. Instead of stressing about dealing with insurance company employees, you can concentrate on your health. Knowing you’re in good legal hands can be very helpful to you and your family at a challenging time. The Dominguez Firm has over 30 years of experience dealing with insurance companies. In that time, we have amassed a 96%* success rate in securing fair settlements for our clients. Contact us today for a free consultation and let our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys help you get the compensation you’re entitled to. Call us at (800)818-1818 today.
My experience was good. They made sure to kept me in the loop and made sure to let me know what was going on the whole time. My mom has used other attorneys and this experience was beyond better. I would definitely recommend them!
— Ashley Magana
The attorneys were always available and answered my questions. I would recommend them to anyone. Zoe is the best!
— Janet Salazar
My experience with The Dominguez Firm and the attorneys was really good. They were very informative and always returned my calls.
— Jocelyn Gonzalez