If you or a family member are injured in a truck, motorcycle, or car accident do not give the insurance company’s claims handler a recorded statement until you first consult with an experienced attorney who handles accidents on the road. Insurance companies act friendly with reptile spokesmen and “You’re in good hands” slogans, but they’re in out to make money. Just as our number one goal is to get the most money possible for our clients, the insurance company’s number one goal is to keep as much of their money as possible; there are a number of tactics the insurance company will use to limit or deny injury claims.
After an accident, you will be contacted by the insurance company claims handler who will ask you to make a recorded statement to help assist in their investigation. When you give the insurance company a recorded statement after the accident, it’s possible that you may still be upset about the accident or under the influence of pain medications. It’s very important to remember that whatever you say to the insurance company claims handler may and will be used against you in court. Even if a misstatement is unintentional, an insurance adjuster is trained to use it against you. Accordingly, you should always contact an experienced attorney before giving such statements. Likewise, you should never agree to provide medical authorizations or releases to the insurance claims handler without first consulting an attorney.
Examples of Tactics Insurance Company Claims Handlers use when Attempting to Limit or Deny Your Claim in a Truck, Motorcycle, or Car Accident
- Claims handlers will tell you that your injuries were sustained before the accident occurred or were caused by a previous accident or physical illness. A pre-existing injury can be a major factor in reducing an insurance claim and a prior injury may have nothing to do with your current injury. Accordingly, you should not accept this excuse from your claim handler.
- Claims handlers will tell you that they will close your file if you don’t make a decision as to settlement. This is a common tactic to create false deadlines that rush a person injured in a truck, motorcycle, or car accident into a settlement decision. A quick settlement generally favors the insurance company. Keep in mind, the only deadline that matters is the “statute of limitations” to file a lawsuit. You should quickly consult with an experienced injury attorney to find out the true deadlines in filing a case.
- Claims handlers will try to convince you that you were not injured to push you into a smaller settlement. Therefore, it is very important that you seek treatment immediately after you notice pain or discomfort. They may tell you that the police accident report does not indicate that you had any complaints of pain at the scene of the accident. To undersell your claim, the claims handler may tell you that you did not go to the hospital or take an ambulance after the accident. They may tell you that the property damage was not severe so therefore you could not have been injured. Do not be intimidated or forced into dismissing your medical damages claim based on the insurance company’s opinion of your injuries.
- Claims handlers may try to get you to admit to partial liability for the accident. They may try to convince you that you didn’t react quickly enough to avoid collision or that you made an abrupt or unnecessary stop, which caused the accident. Insurance companies often try to place a percentage of fault on innocent drivers if they can get away with it, this is especially used against innocent motorcyclists involved in accidents. Do not admit fault!
The big insurance companies want to settle car accident claims for the smallest amount possible. Do not let them take advantage of you after an automobile accident. If you have been in a Missouri automobile accident you should seek the assistance of a skilled car accident attorney. The experienced attorneys at KC Road Lawyers have handled hundreds of accident cases in the Kansas City Missouri area. We know all the tactics employed by insurance companies to reduce payouts and will take the necessary steps to anticipate and counter their actions. We will protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve if you are involved in an accident on the road.
If you have any questions about accidents with a car, truck, or motorcycle contact KC Road Lawyers LLC for a free consultation to determine if you have a claim.