Have you ever been in an accident or incurred an injury that turned your life upside down, leaving you financially and medically overwhelmed?
What follows can be a frantic scramble to try and get your life back in order. Things can get worse when you have to deal with those stubborn insurers.
However, if you have a clear plan of action, you can easily outmaneuver everyone, including insurers. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1) Be Fast: Time Matters When Making Claims
Usually, the first thing you should do is seek medical intervention to stop your injuries from worsening. After the doctors are done attending to your needs, you should seek the assistance of the top personal injury attorneys who are well-versed in such claims.
To speed things up further, follow these steps:
- Document it immediately: While undergoing treatment, inform insurance adjusters about your accident. In the meantime, get all the necessary evidence you need to justify your claim.
- Get professional help: You should also hire a good lawyer as soon as possible, because they know personal injury claims inside out and can help you with the process, making life easier for you.
2) Prepare for Insurance Adjusters: Know Their Tactics
The modus operandi of all insurance adjusters is to deny your claims and make you feel like you’re not entitled to compensation. Do not give them room to exploit you. To stay one step ahead, follow the steps below.
- Don’t be fooled by quick offers: Insurers tend to offer compensation immediately when you still haven’t completed your investigation of the accident. Such offers appear lucrative but are actually lower than expected.
- Do not be in a hurry to get payments: Insurance adjusters will pressure you and push you to take money, claiming it is the best payout. Do not fall for their words. These are just ploys meant to trigger you to forfeit your claim for a better payout in the future.
3) Focus on Getting the Highest Settlement
After you have been treated for all your injuries at the hospital and have all the necessary medical reports, including possible future costs, it’s time to counter the insurer’s offer. Remember, you are better off working with your lawyer to ensure you have accounted for everything, including:
- Economic losses: Account for all losses directly related to the damages and injuries you have suffered. Include any immediate financial issues like loss of pay.
- Non-economic: Next, include other losses that can be hard to quantify, like pain and suffering. Be rational in your calculation and firm in your decision because you deserve fair compensation.
4) Go to the Negotiation Table: Defend Your Claim
Once you’ve reported your accident to your insurance company, they will have done their investigation and be anticipating a counteroffer from you.
You can choose to be at the table during negotiations or send your attorney instead. If the insurers are adamant, your attorney may threaten them with a court case, pushing them to settle on your terms or to pay a better offer.
Conclusion
Winning against insurers is like winning a battle; you need an ally who understands your pain and the insurers’ tactics. When you follow these procedures clearly, you will likely receive better compensation than what was initially offered.