When the car insurance company denies your claim, it no doubt makes an already stressful and difficult situation even more frustrating. Unfortunately, it's all too common for insurance companies to deny or devalue your claim after a car accident. If you were injured in a vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior, make sure you know how to handle car insurance claim denial tactics.
Recorded Statements
Don’t be fooled into thinking that you must give a statement to the insurance company as soon as possible after an accident. Anything you say during a recorded statement could later come back to serve as evidence of partial liability or some other reason for the insurance company to deny your claim. Always avoid giving a statement, especially if you are taking medication for your injuries, which could affect your state of mind and how you choose to answer any questions.
Blanket Medical Record Waivers
In the process of your claim, you may need to provide evidence of your injuries which often means providing copies of your medical records. Insurance companies will attempt to get you to sign a waiver giving them blanket access to all of your medical records. Do not sign this. Insurance companies may look through the records to find evidence of pre-existing conditions or older injuries they can use against you in your claim.
You should only give insurance companies access to medical records that specifically relate to your injuries from the accident. And, you and your attorney should review the records before sending them on to the insurance company.
Suggesting You Don’t Need a Lawyer
An insurance adjuster’s goal is to mitigate your claim -- that is, pay out the least amount of compensation possible. As you speak to the insurance adjuster, be sure to never let your guard down. If your claim is significant, the adjuster will even attempt to dissuade you from involving an attorney. Without representation, you will be much more vulnerable to their tactics and are more likely to receive a lower settlement, if anything at all. Experienced car accident lawyers will handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf, with your best interest in mind.
Falling Prey to a Low Settlement Offer
In the aftermath of a car accident, it's common for the insurance company to offer an early settlement amount. While it may be tempting to take the offer, accepting the first offer without a full medical diagnosis is not a good idea. If you settle too quickly or before you have a full medical prognosis, you won’t know the full value of your claim since you won’t know what expenses you face in the future. Once you understand your condition, the expected length of your recovery time, the treatments you might need, and your long-term outlook, you’ll have a better idea of what the full extent of your losses will be.
No matter what an insurance adjuster may say, you have a right to reject a settlement offer from the insurance company. Accepting an offer will require you to give you important rights, including the ability to file a lawsuit for your injuries. That is why it is so important to understand the full value of your claim and to know that you can and should reject any offer that doesn’t fairly compensate you for your losses.
What to Do if the Insurance Company Is Denying Your Claim
When you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, your entire focus revolves around recovery and getting back on your feet. If the insurance company is denying or devaluing your claim, contact our top rated car accident attorneys for a free legal review of your case.
When you hire a New Jersey car accident lawyer from our team at Brandon J. Broderick, you pay nothing upfront. We work on contingent fees that are only collected if we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Without a legal claim, the insurance company can offer you a lowball offer that barely covers any of your needs and may even refuse to cover some of the damages. You may be left having to pay for the costs of your injuries on your own. Contact us today and let us turn your setback into a comeback.