Auto Collision Injury Lawyers Discuss Unfair and Dishonest Tactics Auto Insurance Companies Use to Minimize Claims
If you are involved in a car accident in Atlanta or the surrounding areas of Georgia, you could suffer serious injuries or even the tragic loss of a loved one. When you suffer injury in a serious auto collision caused by a negligent driver, you can normally pursue a claim against the at fault driver to obtain compensation for your injuries. The other driver’s insurance company usually defends its insured against the claim and indemnifies its insured within policy limits. It is important to understand the incentives of the other driver’s insurance company. The carrier’s objective is to pay the minimum number of claims and the smallest amount of compensation possible in order to increase insurance company profits. Insurance companies have teams of attorneys, accident reconstruction experts, and a wealth of resources that they use to minimize the recovery of accident victims. They handle tens of thousands of claims each year, so they have an enormous wealth of experience in avoiding or minimizing liability claims.
The best approach that a Georgia car accident victim can take is to retain an Atlanta personal injury lawyer who understands the sharp practices that insurance carriers use to avoid paying claims. The sooner you obtain legal representation, the less chance that you fall into a trap set by the other driver’s insurance carrier. There are an enormous number of deceptive tactics that insurance companies use to minimize liability when dealing directly with an accident victim. Our Atlanta auto collision lawyers have provided an overview of some of the tricks and tactics that the other driver’s insurance company may employ to avoid liability:
Delaying Settlement of a Claim: Insurance companies are aware that car accidents that cause serious injuries from broken bones to brain or spinal cord injuries often create enormous financial pressures on car accident victims and their families. Mortgage lenders, credit card companies, utility companies, and other creditors do not stop sending bills because you are injured in a vehicle collision. Insurance company adjusters know that mounting medical bills compound your ongoing obligations to pay such household expenses. An insurance company can intentionally drag out the settlement process because the company is aware that such a delay will increase the financial pressure on a disabled injury victim. The insurance carrier hopes that this financial pressure becomes so intense that you simply settle the case for whatever the insurance company is prepared to offer because you cannot afford to wait any longer to obtain a financial recovery. However, you should never delay in seeking legal advice as you have a limited amount of time to pursue a claim.
Use of Recorded Statements: Once the other driver’s auto insurance carrier has been informed that you have been injured in a car accident, the insurer may ask you to agree to a recorded statement. The insurance adjuster may even imply that the company cannot process your claim unless you provide such a statement. Because you are pursuing a third-party insurance claim based on the liability of the insurance company’s policyholder, you are under no obligation to provide such a recorded statement without an attorney. It is never a good idea to agree to such a statement without the benefit of legal representation because any inconsistencies, confusion, or misstatements can later be used against you to deny or minimize your claim. The insurance company’s request to take a written statement is not intended to facilitate payment of your claim. The sole purpose of such a statement is to develop damaging evidence against you and an effective litigation strategy to deny liability or reduce the value of your case.
