After a car crash in Chattanooga, insurance companies use calculated tactics to minimize your settlement. Insurance adjusters are trained professionals who protect company profits by finding ways to pay you less than your claim is worth, even when you are the victim.
Learn more about the insurance industry’s most common strategies for devaluing claims—from rushing inadequate offers to twisting your statements against you. This blog will walk you through the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts and explain how they question and delay the claims process and use comparative negligence to assign partial fault to lower settlements.
Do not let insurance companies take advantage of you during this vulnerable time. Contact an experienced Massey & Associates, P.C. Chattanooga car accident attorney for a free consultation. We will evaluate your case, explain your options and help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Request a FREE consultation today: (423) 396-0720
Common Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Devalue Your Claim
Insurance companies often employ various tactics to minimize what they pay you on a personal injury claim. Some of the most common tactics used in Chattanooga, Tennessee, include:
- Low Settlement Offers: Insurance companies may offer an initial low settlement, hoping you will accept it without consulting an attorney.
- Downplaying Injury Severity: They may argue that your injuries are less severe than you claim or suggest that your injuries were pre-existing.
- Assigning Partial Fault: Insurance companies might claim that you were partially at fault for the accident, aiming to reduce their payout by applying modified comparative fault laws.
- Delaying the Process: By dragging out the claims process, insurers hope to pressure you into accepting a lower settlement out of frustration.
- Questioning Medical Treatment: Insurers may challenge the necessity or reasonableness of your medical treatment to reduce your claim’s value.
Recognizing these tactics is crucial to ensure that you are not taken advantage of, and your interests are protected.
Why Chattanooga Insurance Adjusters Question Your Medical Treatment
Insurance adjusters often question the necessity and legitimacy of your medical treatment in an attempt to reduce the value of your claim. They may ask why you did not seek immediate medical care after the incident the injured you. They may try to argue that the treatment for your injuries was excessive. They may also try to downplay the long-term effects of your injuries.
Insurance companies goals are to protect their profit margin, not to pay the “full and fair” compensation you deserve. Adjusters are trained to reduce the amount of compensation paid out, and questioning medical treatment is one of the ways they do this.
Steps to Protect Your Rights Against Insurance Companies
When dealing with the fallout of an accident, it is important that you defend your rights to potential compensation when dealing with insurance companies after a car accident:
- Document Everything : Keep thorough records of medical treatments, repair bills, and any correspondence with the insurance company.
- Consult an Aattorney: A personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of insurance claims and ensure that your rights are protected.
- Do Not Agree to a Recorded Statement: Without legal counsel, avoid making recorded statements to the insurance company, as they can be used against you.
- Do Not Accept an Offer Without Seeking Legal Help: Insurance companies often make low initial settlement offers. They know most victims do not know the true value of their claim. In the early days after an injury, the full value cannot yet be known, especially if you have not yet recovered from your injuries. A lawyer knows this and can determine whether the offer is fair or if there should be further negotiation.
- Review Your Policy: It is easy to forget the small print exclusions and full details of your policy. Take time to review the policy in full, including your coverage limits and your rights under it.
By following these steps and working with an experienced attorney, you can better protect your rights and fight for fair compensation.
Why It Is Beneficial to Have a Lawyer Negotiate for You
Having a lawyer negotiate on your behalf offers advantages that can lead to better outcomes and greater peace of mind. Attorneys often have years of experience and extensive knowledge of the law. Their knowledge and skills can save you significant time, stress, and money, protecting you from being pressured into taking an offer that will not nearly cover the costs of your damages.
Below are the key reasons why hiring a lawyer can make a significant difference.
Extensive Knowledge of Personal Injury Law
Lawyers possess a thorough understanding of the laws and regulations relevant to your situation. This expertise allows them to identify potential risks, develop legal strategies that benefit you and ensure agreements are fair.
Strategic Negotiation Skills
Experienced lawyers are skilled negotiators and use proven strategies to advocate effectively for your best interests, helping secure terms that are both fair and advantageous.
Protection Against Unfair Tactics
Insurance companies or other third-parties may use pressure tactics or exploit an injured victim’s lack of legal knowledge. Your lawyer knows how to identify these tactics and protect your interests.
Need Legal Help? Call Our Trusted Law Firm
Do not let insurance companies dictate the outcome of your car accident claim. Their goals do not align with yours, so their approach is always to minimize your compensation.
At Massey & Associates, P.C., we help injured victims every day, something we have been doing for decades. We have a history of proven results and are committed to protecting your rights throughout the legal process.
Worried about the cost of hiring a lawyer? We take cases on contingency, so there are never upfront costs or fees to pay. We only get paid if you do.
Experienced Lawyers. Fighting for You. (423) 396-0720
Gary Massey, Jr., is a well-known courtroom advocate practicing law in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary is a native of Tennessee who began practicing law in 1998. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law where he was ranked in the top 3% of his class and was an editor of the Cumberland Law Review.
