A lot of accident victims don’t think to hire a Sargent car crash lawyer until their insurance claim has been denied. Some of them seem shocked to learn that their claim won’t be paid. Others don’t know what to do. The good news is that the insurance company will have to take it seriously when they hear from your accident attorney.
Insurance Companies Often Try to Take Advantage of Accident Victims
It may not be fair, but insurance companies tend to take advantage of accident victims. It doesn’t really matter if it’s your insurance company or the other driver’s. Insurance companies are simply not in the business of paying every claim that crosses their threshold.
This is why there are times when a claim that seems legitimate will be denied. Perhaps the insurance adjuster says you didn’t file your claim in time. Or they may insist that you caused the crash.
Whatever the reason, the insurance company is hoping that you’ll take their decision as final. Make sure you don’t agree and sign anything with them before talking with an accident attorney.
The Insurance Company Will Pressure You to Make a Recorded Statement
From the moment the accident is reported, the insurance company is going to pressure you to make a statement. They will typically call you on the phone, on a recorded line, and ask you to give your version of the events.
They may not even give you the chance to say you don’t want to be recorded. They will tell you that this is standard procedure and make it sound as if you don’t have a choice in the matter.
However, you don’t have to make a statement when they call you. Your car wreck attorney can always make a statement for you.
The Insurance Adjuster May Try to Convince You to Accept a Lowball Settlement
Another way the insurance company may try to take advantage of you is by offering you a ridiculously low settlement. They’ll tell you that they were going to deny your claim, but they wanted to make a good faith effort at settling the claim instead.
Their hope is that you’ll accept the settlement. They know you are likely desperate for cash. After all, you have medical bills piling up. You also need to get your car fixed so you can get to work or school.
The Insurance Company Hopes That You Don’t Hire a Lawyer
They would never admit this, but the insurance company is hoping you don’t hire a Sargent car crash lawyer. They would much rather deal with you and you alone.
This is why it’s never a pleasant surprise when they learn that you’re represented by a seasoned accident attorney.
You should never feel bad about this. You have a right to legal representation. If your claim is denied, you’ll need somebody on your side who knows the law.
They May Deny Your Claim, Hoping You Don’t File an Appeal
When the insurance company receives your claim, they have three choices. If the claim is small, they will usually just pay it. It isn’t worth the money to fight a smaller claim.
They can also deny your claim outright. If they do this, they expect that you’ll file an appeal.
The final option available to the insurance adjuster is to offer a partial payment of your claim. What you need to know is that if you accept this offer and sign a release, you cannot go back for more money later.
Once Your Accident Attorney Gets Involved, Your Claim Will Be Taken More Seriously
When you first meet with an auto accident lawyer, they’ll ask you to tell your version of what happened. They’ll review whatever information you have regarding the accident.
If they decide to represent you, they’ll send a letter of representation to the insurance company. Once they receive this letter, they can no longer contact you directly.
This takes away their chance to convince you to accept a lowball settlement. They know better than to do this with an attorney.
Your Claim May Be Approved Once You Refer the Insurance Adjuster to Your Lawyer
Our accident attorneys always tell their clients not to be surprised if their claim gets paid once they retain their services. Sometimes, when the insurance adjuster sees you have an attorney, they decide to pay your claim.
They know that it may cost them thousands of dollars to fight the claim. It is sometimes cheaper and easier for them to just pay your claim. Or they may be willing to settle for a much higher amount once an attorney is involved.
The Insurance Adjuster Knows Your Lawyer Won’t Accept an Unfair Settlement
Insurance companies are aware that an experienced lawyer won’t accept a low settlement. Our goal is to get our clients as much money as possible. We know what your out-of-pocket expenses are and the compensation you’re entitled to.
If the insurance company does attempt to offer a lowball settlement, your accident attorney will simply make a counteroffer. If they don’t accept it, then you always have the option of filing suit.
Contact a Sargent Car Crash Lawyer Right Away
After your car accident, you may think all you have to do is file your insurance claim. You don’t think for a minute that your claim will be denied. However, when it is, it’s time to contact an experienced Georgia accident attorney.
It may not seem fair, but insurance companies take attorneys a lot more seriously than they do accident victims. That’s why we suggest you reach out to a skilled car crash lawyer sooner rather than later.
We do offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. All you have to do is call our office at 770-HELP-NOW and speak with one of our representatives. They’ll help you find a date and time to come in to discuss your case.
