My office has handled hundreds, if not a few thousand, accident cases over the past 15 years. I have seen how the insurance industry deals with victims after they begin the claim process following the accident. I have found that most insurance adjustors are highly trained adversaries, although most people would never think this, at least not in the beginning of the claims process. Most people know that the insurance company is in business to make money and that settling claims for as little as possible is one way they cut costs and increase profits.
Yet, most people are unaware of how sophisticated, yet simple, the methods the carrier will utilize to help it accomplish this goal. Here are some questions that often will make the insurance company squirm. The insurance carrier hates it when people ask these questions because they either can't answer or the only possible answer is one you don't want to hear. QUESTION 1: Isn't it true that if I use an attorney, I'm likely to recover more money in settlement than if I try to settle the claim on my own? ANSWER: Don't be surprised if the adjustor lies to you and says "no" to this important question. How do I know that answer is false? Because a study by the Insurance Research Council (a nonprofit group funded by major insurance companies across the nation) and titled "Paying for Auto Injuries" found that the average total payout on claims that have an attorney is 4.8 times greater than those claims where the injured victim settled on his or her own.
This same study showed that individuals who use an attorney receive 3.28 times more money after the attorney's fee is paid. Most insurance claims adjustors are very aware of this study. So, if the insurance company wants to maximize profits it will train its claims representatives to go to great efforts to dissuade people from hiring an attorney. Simply put, the insurance companies know that if you hire counsel you will likely get more money in settlement, even after deducting the lawyer's fee. QUESTION 2: How can the insurance company verify that the settlement amount being offered to me is fair and reasonable? ANSWER: It can't and it won't! Sure, the adjustor will tell you that settlement offer is reasonable and fair but he can't verify or prove it to you that everyone with similar injuries never receives more.
Unless you are in the business of negotiating and settling injury claims there is little chance you will know whether the settlement amount that is being offered is fair. Therefore, by negotiating and settling the claim yourself without using the assistance of a professional (i.e., personal injury attorney) you run the risk of accepting a sum that may turn out to be much less than what is considered reasonable for your type of claim. QUESTION 3: Why do I have to give you a recorded statement when you can get information about the accident from the police report? ANSWER: Because the insurance company will try to use your own statements against you! In most accidents a police report will be filed and the insurance company has easy access to this report (it just takes a written request and a small fee).
What is a recorded statement required? Most companies have written policies in place which require the adjustor to get a recorded statement to see if there's any information the accident victim might reveal which could be later used to either deny the claim or pay out less money when settlement occurs. QUESTION 4: If I give you a recorded statement, can I then get a recorded statement from your own insured, i.e., the other driver? ANSWER: No! This will never happen.
It seems fair though doesn't it? If you have to give a statement about the accident, then why can't you also get a statement from the other driver? You should never give a recorded statement to the insurance company for the same reasons the insurance adjustor will never allow this. QUESTION 5: Why do I have to give you an unrestricted medical authorization before I can settle the claim? ANSWER: Insurance adjustors can comb through your past medical history and find anything about your prior health which will help the company to deny your claim or pay out as little as possible. You can just as easily collect your accident-related records and send them to the carrier for its review at time of settlement. But usually if you are not represented by counsel the carrier will never accept this. By using an attorney, the attorney can usually put limits on how much medical information needs to be disclosed.
QUESTION 6: Shouldn't I wait to settle the claim until my medical treatment concludes, or until I'm sure that I have made a full recovery? ANSWER: No, because the insurance company knows that the quicker you settle the claim the less money it will have to pay out. Once you settle the claim you can't reopen the case if it turns out your injuries are more severe or if you need more treatment as recommended by your doctor. Most insurance companies have in place written directives to its claims department to settle every claim as quickly as possible so the accident victim can't re-open the case later if the person's condition gets worse. QUESTION 7: Why hasn't anyone told me about Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage? ANSWER: Probably because too few people know that they may have additional coverage under their own policies which will pay for the injuries and damages caused by a car accident. If the at-fault driver has no insurance, or not enough insurance to pay for your damages, then your own insurance company is responsible for paying you additional compensation under the UM/UIM portion of your policy. Many insurance companies obviously don't want you to know about this coverage because it may mean that you are entitled to more compensation! QUESTION 8: will you pay my doctor to write a detailed report explaining why my treatment has been appropriate and related to the accident if you are claiming that my medical treatment is excessive or unreasonable? ANSWER: Of course not! The insurance company will always refuse this request.
And why should it? Although the claims adjustor has absolutely no medical training, nothing stops him or her from arguing that your treatment was excessive or unreasonable. This is just one way how the carrier will say anything to whittle down the value of your claim so you accept a much smaller settlement than what you're otherwise entitled to. An experienced personal injury attorney on your side will solve this problem!.
Mr. Davis is the author of an exciting, new, and contraversial book entitled "The Ten Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Washington Accident Case" availalbe at http://www.washingtonaccidentbook.com. You can learn more about his practice by visiting http://www.injurytriallawyer.com.
