Whether you’re filing a claim against another driver’s auto insurance policy, your own auto insurance policy, your homeowners’ insurance, a negligent doctor, or just about any other insurance policy you can think of, insurance companies are not the “good neighbors” they claim to be. Nor are you necessarily “in good hands.” Nonetheless, you’re required to deal with these people if you ever want to see any compensation for injuries related to an insurance policy.
So what do insurance companies do that’s so dirty? We’ll discuss some of that below.
They Will Attempt to Contact You
Insurance companies and the insurance adjusters that represent claims will attempt to get in contact with you before you hire a lawyer. The sense of having a lawyer is to route all communications through said lawyer. Insurance companies know full well that you’re not a legal professional. They will ask you loaded questions or say things like: “I hope you’re feeling better.” It’s important to understand that the insurance adjuster does truly hope you’re feeling better, but doesn’t really care about you as a person. To them, you’re a number and their job is to make that number as low as possible.
In other words, let’s say you have significant injuries after a car accident. The insurance adjuster’s job is to pay you as little money as possible to settle the claim. They will use tricky language to get you to minimize your injuries. They will scour your social media account to see if you’ve gone rollerblading recently. If you told your grandma that you’re doing much better because you don’t want her to worry, you can expect that the insurance company will have a screenshot prepared in court.
They Will Demand a Statement
The insurance company is under no legal obligation. They have no legal obligation to inform you of your rights. They may, in fact, say something to the effect of: “You need to give us a statement” or “We need a statement before we can process your claim.” In this case, they’re attempting to box you into a statement before you’ve had the chance to speak to an attorney. But you don’t have to tell them anything nor should you.
The thing you need to understand is that it’s a bit of a hustle. If they ask you to sign anything, don’t. If they pressure you into talking, don’t. Their job is not to get you your money. Their job is to reduce the value of your claim as much as possible.
Your attorney’s job is to see to it that you aren’t cheated by the insurance adjuster. We preserve the integrity of your claim and maximize its value. That’s why, when the insurance adjuster tells you that you don’t need a lawyer, that should set off alarms that you absolutely do.
Need a Personal Injury Attorney in Kansas City, MO?
The Krause & Kinsman Law Firm litigates claims against insurance companies and their at-fault policyholders. We ensure that you get every penny that you deserve. Talk to us today for a free consultation.
