In Kentucky, every driver is required to carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage in case they get into an accident. This means that after any car accident, you’ll have to deal with at least one insurance company. Following a crash, too many people think this is easy to do. They know they’ve paid their premiums and they think the insurance company is there to help them when they need them. After all, isn’t that why we all pay our premiums?
The big corporate insurance companies are much more interested in making a profit than they are in helping their clients get back to their best health. Due to this, there are several things the insurance company won’t tell you after an accident. Knowing what these are, and the tricks insurance companies use, can help ensure you’ll get the settlement you deserve.
The Insurance Company Will Use Your Words Against You
At some point, you should speak to the other driver’s insurance company if the other driver was in the wrong. When you do this do not agree to have the conversation in writing and if they respond that they must conduct their investigation then invite them to submit written questions to you for your review. They may ask you to sign a release to obtain your medical records. It is important that you refuse as they will be reviewing your entire medical record for excuses to deny your claim even if the record has nothing to do with your current injuries. The insurance company is looking for you to make statements accepting blame or giving them an excuse to deny your claim, even if that means taking your words out of context.
The Insurance Company Will Want You to Take Their First Offer
When insurance companies understand that a claim is valued at thousands of dollars, or even millions, they’ll often try to offer a quick low ball settlement of pennies on the dollar. They do this because they don’t want to give you more time to understand the full extent of your injuries, and because they want to move on from your case without paying the full claim they should. In our experience, the first offer is almost always very low compared to what the insurance company is willing to pay when compared to submitting a demand prepared by an injury professional. This is why the insurance company will often make the first offer quickly in hopes you’ll take it just as quick. Too often after an accident, victims are simply happy to receive anything from the insurance company and accept the first offer without the help of a professional; almost always allowing the insurance company to drastically undervalue their claim.
One more reason to not settle with their first offer is because they are often making it before you know the extent of your injuries. They don’t have to pay for a surgery you didn’t know you would need if you sign a release a week or two after the accident. They get away without having to pay for the surgery they caused you to need to undergo all because you wanted to sign the release and get it behind you quickly. Don’t fall for that trap. Make sure you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) and have your claim reviewed by a Kentucky injury professional who handles serious injury claims in Kentucky every day.
The Insurance Company Will Delay to Make More Money
Although the insurance company will likely want you to accept a low-ball offer at some point, often early, if they think causing delay will help them to dispute liability or give them a reasonable basis to deny your claim then they will often delay and not respond to you as quickly as they arguably should. This helps them in two ways. First, they get to keep the money that should be paid to you even longer (usually investing it and earning interest on it the longer they can hold on to it). Second, if they know you represent yourself then they will delay in the hope that you would rather give up on your claim than have to go speak to one of those personal injury lawyers.
Don’t let the insurance company bully you or blow you off. We know how to make them stand to attention about your claim and treat you as a person instead of a number they would like to make go away.
They Don’t Want You to Call a Richmond Car Accident Lawyer
It has been demonstrated time and time again that injured individuals get larger insurance settlements when they are represented by an attorney. It’s for this reason that insurance companies don’t want you to hire a Kentucky car accident lawyer who can help with your case.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact Morrin Law Office at (859) 358-0300. We’ll speak to the insurance company on your behalf, make sure your medical bills get paid, obtain wage loss payments for you, and ensure you get fair treatment and a fair settlement that will help you get back to your best life as soon as possible. Call or text us today or fill out our online form for your free case evaluation.
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