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Dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident in St. Petersburg is a difficult task. These professionals have undergone training in order to protect the interests of the insurance company.
In most cases, they work on paying out the minimum coverage on claims. They may come across as friendly and very helpful, but it should always be kept in mind that they are working to save the insurance company money. They are not to ensure you get what you deserve from your injuries and losses.
That is why it is extremely crucial to consult the top St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers before any contact is made with an insurance adjuster. They will guide you and help you in this process. The professionals at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys are pretty good at this. With two and a half decades of combined experience, you can bet on this firm to get you the compensation you deserve. The law firm’s founder, Sean Lopez, is more than just a lawyer. He is a member of Stetson’s Environmental Law Society, has numerous articles in law review journals, and is also a Florida-licensed realtor.
Here are some of the tricks that an insurance adjuster may use to lowball accident victims.
The Quick Settlement Offers
One of the most common tricks used by an insurance adjuster is the quick settlement offer. Within days after the accident, you might receive a call with an amount that seems pretty considerable in terms of an offer to settle your claim. It is quite tempting when you have been under tremendous pressure, with rising medical bills and lost wages. However, these early offers are often far less than what you are truly entitled to.
They know that immediately after the accident, you are unlikely to comprehend the injuries caused and how much you will have to spend in the future. The quick settlement will allow them to close your case before you ever realize its actual value.
Once you accept the offer, you practically lose the opportunity to recover higher damages, even in the event that it becomes clear your injuries are more serious than they actually were.
The Recorded Statement
Another common tactic is a request for a recorded statement. The adjuster may inform you that this is standard procedure that is necessary to move your claim forward. It seems like there is nothing wrong with this.
They will ask you questions in ways that could lead you to accidentally confess your fault or downplay your injuries. They could take what you said and use it to their advantage later by trying to turn those words around to fit in with their view.
The Delay and Discourage Strategy
Sometimes, insurance adjusters use a delay treatment to wear you down. They might leave you waiting for long periods of time to process your claim, hoping you’ll get frustrated or desperate enough to accept a lower offer. These tactics also push you toward important deadlines, like the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit.
They may request information or documentation, sometimes even unnecessary ones, which adds to the time the process takes. They do this hoping that sooner or later most people are just going to give up or settle for less just to be done with the ordeal.
The Social Media Surveillance
Today’s digital age offers a new tool for insurance adjusters: social media. They frequently monitor the claimant’s sites, searching for information that might contradict your claim. For example, they can use an innocent post about a lovely day and argue that your injuries are not truly as serious as you make them seem to be.
Even if you exercise caution in what you post, friends and family might do this on your behalf without meaning any harm. It is a subtle form of surveillance that many may not even be aware of.
Conclusion
Dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident can be very complicated and irritating. Not all adjusters use tricks, but knowing these general tricks will protect your interests and get you fair compensation.
