After an accident, many people believe they can save money by negotiating with the insurance company. Insurance companies have many tricks they use that a layperson may not be aware of. When you hire an attorney, in most cases you can get three times more compensation for your injuries. lawyers in Williamsport PA include your medical costs, attorney’s fee, and other damages when negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf.
Insurance Companies Tricks
Insurance companies exist to make money. Each claim they pay reduces their bottom line. In the event that you have suffered catastrophic injuries due to another person’s negligence, their insurance may be responsible for thousands of dollars of medical costs and other damages. Insurance companies will do anything to avoid paying that amount and may deny or reduce your claim. Insurance companies will use tricks like:
Insurance Companies Twist Your Words
Insurance companies are known to use your words against you. They will deny your claim if they can twist the words you say far enough. They’ll at least offer you a pittance. Insurance companies often record their conversations and train adjusters to search for acts inconsistent with the initial claim. They will then twist that into an admission of liability. This trap can be easily sprung by lawyers who are not familiar with dealing with insurance companies.
Acting Concerned
An insurance adjuster will contact you once you have filed a claim. It is not a friendly adjuster, but he will try to make you talk. Even the adjuster may show concern for your injuries. The insurance adjuster will play on your vulnerability and emotions to gain more information. You should only give your contact details, your accident date and location, and the contact information of your lawyer to anyone calling from an insurance company.
Insurance Companies Request or Demand More Information
Please do not provide any other information to the insurance company, except for your contact details, the date and place of the accident, and the contact information of your lawyer. The adjuster may tell you that the insurance company cannot offer any money until it receives additional information about the accident and your medical treatment. This information will be used against you to deny or reduce your claim. You are not required by law to provide this information to the insurance company. Instead, you can refer to your lawyer and/or police report.
The Insurance Company tries to talk you out of hiring an attorney
Most people are aware that this is a set-up. Insurance companies often wait until they feel you are trusting them before trying this trick. The insurance company will often tell you that your settlement will be split with the lawyer. They fail to mention that attorneys receive more compensation from insurance companies for personal injury cases than people without legal representation. Also, lawyers include their fees and costs in the amount of damages that you can claim.
Offer a Pittance as a Settlement
You are probably out of work after an accident and concerned about bills and food. Many insurance companies will offer a low settlement to you in hopes that you’ll take it. Insurance companies will often tell you that the settlement they are offering is all they can afford. This is almost always a Lie. Do not accept an offer before consulting an attorney about your case. Later, you may need more money to pay for medical costs. You can’t ask for more money after you accept the settlement.
Ignoring you
The closer you are to the statute, the longer the insurance company delays. After the statute of limitation expires, you cannot take legal action against an insurance company. The insurance company may also ignore you to get you to give up your claim. Hiring a Williamsport personal injuries attorney will prevent this trick.
How to recover damages after an accident or incident that causes personal injury
Some people are able to recover economic damages. Others can recover both economic and noneconomic damages. The goal of both types is to restore your financial well-being. You may be entitled to recover punitive damage in some cases. However, this is only possible if the court determines that the defendant acted with gross negligence or intent.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are sometimes referred to by the term special damages. They have a monetary amount and include:
- Medical costs
- Loss of wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Repair or replacement of damaged or destroyed property.
- Funeral and burial costs
- Cremation expenses.
- Costs and fees for the attorney who handles probate.
Damages Other Than Economic
Non-economic damages are also known as general damages. They do not have any monetary value. Non-economic damages are usually only awarded if a loved one has died in an accident, or if the defendant is negligent and you have suffered catastrophic injuries.
Damages other than economic damages include
- The term “pain and suffering” includes emotional distress.
- You may suffer a loss of quality of living if you are forced to change your life, for example by using ambulatory devices or prescription medications.
- If you are no longer able to enjoy a physical connection with your spouse, then it is called a loss of consortium.
- You may feel lonely if you are unable to spend time with family members or participate in family events and activities.
- It is an inconvenience to have to pay someone else to do your usual chores, such as house cleaning, yard maintenance, grocery shopping and home repairs and maintenance.
- Disfigurement or excessive scarring.
- Amputation of the limb or a digit.
Williamsport, PA Personal Injury Lawyers can Help You with Insurance Negotiations
You may be able to recover damages if you were injured due to the negligence of another individual or entity. Williamsport, PA personal injury lawyers can negotiate a settlement on your behalf to get you the compensation that you deserve.
After an accident or incident that results in personal injury, consult a Williamsport personal injury attorney to receive a free evaluation of your case.
The article Insurance Negotiations: Benefits of Hiring Williamsport Personal injury Attorneys first appeared on Attorney at Law Magazine.