If you have been injured in an accident and the other party is at fault, you are probably thinking that you can easily recover damages by filing a personal injury claim. Not so fast. Hold your horses right there and read this.
You may be surprised just how difficult insurance companies in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California make it for their policyholders to obtain compensation that they truly deserve.
You may have heard about some of the unfair insurance claim practices employed by insurance companies to minimize the value of personal injury claims, but you never probably thought that this could happen to you. That is a big mistake to make, our Los Angeles personal injury attorney says. Speaking of mistakes… Here are three mistakes that your insurer will most likely take advantage of to pay less than your damages require.
Mistake #1: Thinking that your insurance company is on your side.
Wrong, wrong, and again: wrong! Do not think even for a second that a representative of your insurance company is actually concerned about your health when he/she calls you asking questions about your wellbeing.
It would be naïve to think that insurance companies exist to honestly and reasonably settle claims and help the people. I hate to break it to you, but insurers exist for one and only reason: for their own profit and to make money from you and the likes of you.
Throughout decades, insurance companies in California have gotten quite crafty at cheating and fooling their policyholders – people who suffered injuries, damages, and losses, and are in desperate need of monetary compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other damages. This is why it is so important to be legally represented by a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who sees through all those tactics and strategies employed by your insurer to offer you a low-ball initial settlement, minimize the value of your claim, or even deny coverage altogether.
Mistake #2: Disclosing too much about your accident and injuries
If you have been in an accident and suffered injuries – and your insurance company is aware of it – you will most likely be contacted by an insurance company agent within days or even hours after the accident. At that point, it would be a huge mistake to reveal too much about the accident and your injuries.
Do not answer questions or speak to your insurance company unless you have consulted with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney first. Disclosing too much information about your case when speaking to a representative of the insurance company may result in a significant reduction of your settlement. This is because insurers take advantage of such phone calls to fish out information about what their policyholders expect and what amount they would settle their personal injury claim for.
Mistake #3: Filing a personal injury claim without a lawyer
You do need an attorney to file a personal injury claim in California. This is because your attorney will investigate your case, examine your insurance policy, and inform you of all legal options available in your particular case to maximize the value of your claim and obtain compensation as soon as possible. Do not be surprised if your insurer will attempt to discourage you from hiring a personal injury attorney. You know why they are doing it.
Do not listen to your insurance company: let our attorneys from the Compass Law Group, LLP, negotiate with your insurance company and the insurer of the at-fault party.
