10 Secrets Big Insurance Companies
Don't Want You To Know About
Insurance is BIG BUSINESS, and these companies are businesses that want to make money. The less they pay out to injured victims on claims . . . the more money they make! So it's important you understand some of the ways the big insurance companies get out of paying you.SECRET #1: MOST CASES REQUIRE AN EXPERIENCED LAWYER TO MAXIMUMIZE THE VALUE OF A CLAIM!
This probably sounds like a lawyer trying to get more cases, but unfortunately this secret is true! Insurance companies actively discourage you from getting an attorney. They usually suggest that the attorney's fee is a waste of money, and you can do it yourself. Bottom line: The insurance companies have attorneys and so should you.
SECRET #2: GET MEDICAL ATTENTION…NOW!
If you're in an accident you need to seek immediate medical attention. Victims are often in some state of shock after an accident. The shock period can often mask serious or mild injuries, and the injured will not feel any pain. Most people even deny being hurt because they don't want to make a "big deal" out of the collision. This is a trick the insurance companies use against them when settlement time comes. They claim "If your client was hurt in the accident, why didn't he or she go to the doctor right away." Don't let them win this argument; get the medical treatment you need as quickly as possible.
SECRET #3: TIME IS MONEY!
One of the most important parts of your claim is the evidence. The longer you or your attorney waits to collect the necessary evidence, the harder your case will be to prove. If this evidence is lost, the value of the case may substantially reduced because you cannot prove you claim. Additionally, if you wait too long, you may be barred from recovering any money at all. This is called Statute of Limitations. In some cases, you have to put a party on notice and these time limitations can be very short. The insurance company won't tell you that…they don't want you to recover a dime!
SECRET #4: A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
You've heard it said, "A picture is worth a thousand words." In injury cases, a picture can also be worth a thousand dollars…even more! I always take more pictures than I need, taking pictures of everything relevant. When in doubt, take a picture. Good photographs can make a case.
SECRET #5: WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING.
Documentation is the key to keeping an insurance company honest. If you want to get paid for an expense and other items you are legally supposed to recover, you have to show proof. Many people let legitimate expenses fall through the cracks. But remember, not only does this get these items reimbursed, it also shows just how seriously you were injured. This may give the adjuster a better idea of what happened to you.
SECRET #6: FOLLOW YOUR DOCTORS ADVICE.
Make sure that you carefully follow your doctor's advice. Money cannot ever replace good health, so you want to follow your doctor's advice and treatment plan. You want to recover from your injuries as quickly as possible. Your doctor will keep track of any missed appointments and deviation from his or her treatment plan. When we provide the medical records to the adjuster, they will be able to see these inconsistencies. Their philosophy: hurt people get the help they need and follow through with it. So you can see how they may think you are not injured as seriously as you are if you do not follow through with your doctors.
SECRET #7: INSURANCE ADJUSTERS ARE PEOPLE TOO.
Remember that insurance adjusters are people and people can be reasoned with. Insurance companies don't want you to think of them as people, but that's who run these companies… people! They try to hind behind officious looking stationary, cold voice mail and big buildings, but when it all comes down to it, a person makes the decision when and if to pay the claim.
SECRET #8: THEY ARE NICE TO YOU.
Sound strange? It's true, adjusters try to befriend you and get you to take a small amount of money right away, sign a release and send you on your way. This is taking advantage of people who may have serious injuries and are entitled to a significantly higher amount of money. If you have been offered a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars by the adjuster, you are in a dangerous place and should seek immediate counsel from your attorney.
SECRET #9: THEY DENY LIABILITY.
Insurance companies often deny claims that are real, substantiated, and factual. This is called a "bad faith" claim, and until recently, insurance companies have never been called on this issue. They just flat out dent the claim and hope you will go away or get an attorney who is not very good. They are betting on the odds…for which they have spent much money figuring out. It's not fair, and you need to get a qualified attorney.
SECRET #10: SUE THEM!
They don't want to get sued. But sometimes the best thing to do is skip the insurance adjuster and the insurance company. What happens is you get the claim out of the hands of an adjuster and into the hands of the insurance company's attorney. More often than not these attorneys are easier to deal with, return phone calls better, and are more willing to see the case move along. They will take the matter to jury trial, and often settle before the jury comes back with a verdict.