Undisclosed Tips Your Auto Insurance Company Doesn’t Want You to Know

Many drivers never expect to be forced to sue their auto insurance company in order to receive payment for expenses following a car accident. Typically, most people just want their car repaired and their medical bills taken care of.

Unfortunately, many auto insurance attorneys must deal with car insurance companies that take advantage of their customers by cutting off their benefits with no reason or previous notice. Some insurance companies also use the excuse that a claim is “under investigation” when they stop payment of all medical bills, and people are often intimidated and even lied to by their insurance adjusters.

Here are some common tactics used by auto insurance companies to avoid or minimize payouts to their customers:

1. Read your policy’s fine print.

This task is important but not always easy. Auto accident lawyers often see people miss out on significant benefits because they did not know there was filing requirements obscured in their policies. For example, many auto insurance policies have precise notification requirements, such as a 30 day warning for hit-and-run accidents. Many contracts have individual conditions that require a very timely notice, and insurance companies can alter their policy filing conditions at any time. If a car accident victim does not respond to the notification requirements on time, the victim can lose their coverage.

How to protect yourself:

Alert your insurance company immediately following any kind of accident. Make sure you have your entire auto insurance policy, as well as any notification of coverage changes from year to year available.

It’s also important to check your insurance policy for any benefits that coincide with your own health and disability insurance, and to examine any additional coverage you may have. Have a firm understanding of your insurance policy when you receive ongoing medical care for any car accident injuries. This will ensure that health care providers bill you correctly.

2. Not all insurance agents recommend the best coverage.

After a car accident, there can be several challenges when reviewing health insurance plans, managed care plans, retirement plans, and coordinated/uncoordinated policies. Also, insurance agents may not mention important coverage choices that are available because that will cause them to lose commissions.

A lot of people carry more insurance coverage to avoid liability if they cause a serious car accident. However, many people only pay the minimum insurance premium required by their state each year, and then they allow the auto insurance to lapse.

If there is not an adequate insurance plan, a driver or passenger that is injured by a driver without insurance will have no way to receive legal help to pay for their injuries. The only option would be to file a lawsuit against the uninsured driver for personal assets, and the average person does not have enough personal net worth to pay a person that they have seriously injured.

How to protect yourself:

If you are in an auto accident and injured, contact an experienced auto accident lawyer who can provide assistance on insurance issues, and who will pay medical expenses that you encounter after an auto accident.

Examine your insurance policy for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. If your plan is missing this coverage, inform your insurance company and have them add it – the cost is not very much and it is needed in order to protect you and your family.

You can also lower your auto insurance premiums by 15 %to 40 % by raising your deductibles to at least $500 or more. Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage on older model cars. If your car’s value is less than 10 times the premium you can save money by eliminating those coverages, unless you still owe money on the car. Finally, if you drive less miles per year, contact your insurance company for a quote on low mileage discounts..

3. Settlement offers for accidents are always too low.

If you have just experienced overwhelming injuries involving a car accident and are now recuperating at home, full of pain, and you are worrying about how you are going to pay your medical bills, do not go with the first settlement your insurance agent offers. Determining the value of an auto accident case is much more than a simple calculation of injury, expenses, and third-party policy limits. Essentially, insurance companies save litigation costs by offering settlements before the victim has adequate time to recover.

How to protect yourself:

Call a trustworthy auto accident lawyer and ask for insurance advice. Many lawyers will explain accident law, what you are entitled to and they can make sure your own insurance company is paying what they are supposed to. All of this is with no fee or obligation.

4. Statements are pushed on accident victims too early.

Many victims hurry into signing adjusters’ documents without having the documents reviewed by an auto accident lawyer. Adjusters know that when a victim gets overwhelmed, they are more likely to sign even if they do not know what the document means. Therefore, the victim may lose their right to sue a negligent driver for injuries resulting from the accident. Claims adjusters also attempt to record victim’s statements very early. This minimizes the pain and injuries of the victim when information is used in court at a later time.

How to protect yourself:

If you have not reviewed the paperwork with your attorney yet, then do not give your statement to a claims adjuster and do not sign a release. Tell the adjuster you will get back to them with your response after you have had time to speak with your lawyer. Remember that the claims adjuster works for the insurance company, and he or she has that company’s best interests in mind.

5. Denying or delaying claim payouts is standard practice.

Most people who have suffered injuries from a car accident will immediately call their auto insurance company to find out what steps to take next, yet many insurance companies utilize delay tactics such as denying claims, ignoring phone calls, placing people on hold, requiring a victim to frequently gather records, and sending people to a different adjuster. All of these tactics waste the accident victim’s precious time and money.

How to protect yourself:

If you are encountering these typical delay tactics, contact an auto accident attorney who can assist you so you can receive everything you are entitled to under your state’s laws.

Bottom Line:

Consult with an auto accident attorney as soon as possible if your auto accident includes injuries. You will better understand what benefits you are entitled to and you will have peace of mind knowing that you received all the benefits and compensation that are available to injured drivers.

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