Some Potential Roadblocks to Your Insurance Claim

If an injury lawyer were so inclined, he or she could make quite a bit more money telling potential clients taht they need an attorney to help deal with insurance companies. However that claim would be a lie, because frankly you don't always need an attorney. If you're in a little fender bender a few tips on negotiation would be helpful, but you probably won't have a legitimate lawsuit on your hands. No lawsuit probably means you don't need an attorney. There are however still many cases where you will need an attorney.

Whether or not you hire an attorney you should know the five major errors that will RUIN your chance of getting help with medical bills, lost wages, and effectively negotiating with your insurance adjuster. First lets look at one of the more common mistakes: rushing to settle with the adjuster.

Most people will have a sense of urgency to settle their case. Often times people really need that settlement check. Between medical bills, car repairs, or the wages you lose from missing work due to injury you can end up really hurting for cash. This is all very understandable, but you have to resist the urge to settle. The insurance company deals with this stuff every day, and they know people are in a hurry to settle. They'll give you a low ball offer hoping you take it, this is how they try and take advantage of you.

Insurance adjusters are clever. They may try tactics like calling you early in the morning, when you're on the way to work, or calling your work number near the end of the day. They want to catch you when you're in a hurry because they think you'll be more likely to take an offer without thinking it through or asking questions. Don't fall their ruse. You will have to talk the adjuster eventually, but do it on your own terms. When they reach you at an inconvenient time, reschedule for a time that works better for you, or ignore the call and get back to them at a more convenient time. You can also turn their own tactics against them. After you decide on a settlement number you believe to be fair, call the insurance adjuster at 4:45 on a Friday afternoon. If they have the authority to do so, they may just accept the offer so they can go home. It's always a good idea to be polite, we often point out the negative aspects of dealing with insurance adjusters, but they're people too.

Something else to consider is the time of year. During the holidays a lot of sudden expenses pop up. Having cash in hand can seem very appealing even if you know your owed more because you're buying presents for family and friends. The insurance companies are very aware of this. They may urge you to take an offer so they can "get this settled by the end of the year."

You know what is rightfully owed to you. Do not fall into their traps. It can be tricky negotiating with the insurance company. Make sure you don't commit simple mistakes that will come back to haunt you.


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James Brown is a Missouri injury lawyer based in St. Louis. Before you are hurt in a car accident you need to know the most common mistakes car accident victims make when talking to the insurance adjuster that ruin their accident claims. You can request a free copy of his Missouri accident guide, "I Survived! The Crash Victims Guide to Surviving the Aftermath" at his website http://www.themissouriinjurylawyer.com .