If you are injured in a car accident or other incident caused by someone else, the at-fault party’s insurance company will typically take over the process of evaluating your claim. An adjuster will be assigned to review the facts of the incident and assess the extent of your injuries. Based on that review, the insurer will decide how much it is willing to pay. However, it is important to understand that insurance companies are businesses focused on protecting their bottom line. Their goal is to resolve your claim for as little money as possible, which is why having legal representation can make a meaningful difference in what you ultimately recover.
What Happens After I File a Claim?
Once a personal injury claim is submitted, the insurance company will launch its own investigation into the accident. The adjuster assigned to your case will examine the police report and any medical records you have provided. They may also ask you to give a recorded statement about what happened.
This is where things can get risky. Adjusters are trained to phrase questions in ways that may lead you to say something that weakens your claim. Even a casual remark about feeling “okay” can later be used to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you reported. For this reason, it is generally best to let your attorney handle all communications with the insurer from the start.
Once they wrap up their review, the insurance company will usually present an initial settlement offer. More often than not, this first number will fall well below what your claim is actually worth.
Tactics Insurers Rely On To Reduce Your Payout
Insurance companies follow a well-established playbook when it comes to minimizing what they pay on personal injury claims. Some of the most common strategies include:
- Offering a fast, lowball settlement before you fully understand the extent of your injuries
- Questioning the severity of your condition or arguing that your medical treatment was unnecessary
- Blaming a pre-existing condition for the symptoms you are currently experiencing
- Dragging out the claims process in hopes that financial pressure will push you to accept less
- Requesting excessive documentation to slow the progress of your case
- Shifting fault onto you to reduce your recovery under Nebraska’s comparative negligence rule
Knowing what to watch for in advance can help you avoid costly mistakes down the line.
Contact Steffens Law Offices for Help Dealing With the Insurance Companies
Going up against an insurance company after an injury can feel like a completely unfair situation. Fortunately, you do not have to navigate the process without legal help on your side.
Steffens Law Offices has recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients across 70+ years of combined experience. We’ll work just as hard for you on your case if you decide to hire us, so contact us today for a free consultation. Our personal injury lawyers in Lincoln also work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay attorney’s fees if we win your case (whether through a jury verdict or settlement agreement).