Dealing With Car Insurance Companies
After an accident, our attorneys will stand up for you
Negotiating for maximum compensation can be a complex, stressful, and combative ordeal. The insurance industry makes billions of dollars in profit every year by shortchanging and rejecting injury claims. Adjusters investigating your case are well trained in how to put you in situations where a misstep on your part will save them money. They may offer you a “lowball” settlement, or they may deny your claim entirely.
The only reason an adjuster will award you maximum compensation for your car accident is if they think it will be more costly to fight you in court. If you cannot leverage the threat of legal action against an insurance company, there is little to no incentive for them to make you a substantial settlement offer. The way to make them take your claim seriously is to hire an experienced car accident attorney.
Hoover Rogers Law, LLP takes on the insurance companies for you after a bad, injury-causing accident. We know the tricks and traps insurance adjusters use to reduce and reject legitimate claims. We don’t play their games.
Our car accident lawyers are aggressive in pursuing the money you deserve. We use hard evidence and strong legal arguments to make the insurance adjusters take your claim seriously. If you were injured in the Wichita Falls and Lawton area, contact our law firm for a free injury case evaluation to see what Hoover Rogers Law, LLP can do for you.
We can deal with the other driver’s insurance company
It is important to understand your rights after a car accident so that you don’t get taken advantage of by the insurance companies.
First and foremost: Do not talk to another driver’s insurance company. After an accident, insurance company representatives will investigate the crash to come up with their version of who is at fault – and of course, their goal is to protect their bottom line. Anything you say to an adjuster will almost certainly be used against you to reduce or reject your claim.
You do have to speak with your insurance company to stay in compliance with your contract. Most insurance policies require you to report an accident promptly. Even then, though, you need to be careful. When you contact your insurance company, do not tell them anything more than the most basic accident details like time, place, date, and the names of those involved. Keep your comments brief and don’t say anything about fault.
If they want additional information, refer them to your attorney at Hoover Rogers Law, LLP. We will handle the insurance company while you heal.
We hold the insurance companies accountable
Insurance adjusters use many tactics to reduce or eliminate your claim. Some of them are legal, while others are not. U.S. law requires insurance companies to negotiate “in good faith” with people seeking compensation. It can be difficult to hold your insurance adjuster to that standard without an attorney at your side.
Adjusters are trained to come off as friendly and helpful when you first contact them. They want to make you feel comfortable and earn your trust so that you will open up and provide them with the details they need to cut your settlement. Here are some tips on how to handle insurance adjusters.
- Don’t sign anything. Insurance adjusters are investigating the accident to find ways to save money by reducing or rejecting your claim. They may request your permission for them to view medical, work, or other types of personal records. Often, the insurance company will imply that they’re just looking for records related to the accident, but in fact they have you sign a much broader release that allows them to dig through your medical records for pre-existing conditions. Don’t sign anything from an insurance company without talking to a lawyer first.
- Do not make a verbal statement. Insurance adjusters often want you to make an official statement about what happened in the accident and, possibly, your injuries. Don’t give them a verbal statement or consent to be recorded. Any verbal statement can be taken out of context or even altered to use against you. Plus, you only get one shot at a verbal statement – if you misspeak, that’s it. If you need to give a statement, sit down with your attorney to craft a written statement that protects your interests and accurately tells your side of the story.
- Do not accept lowball settlement offers. After a crash, victims are often in a lot of pain, out of work, and watching the bills pile up. During this vulnerable time, the first settlement offer from the insurance company may look good. They may say it’s the best they can do. It is not. You have the right to negotiate for more. Remember, once you accept their money, that’s it; your case is closed. Always speak with an attorney before you accept a settlement.
- Get a lawyer. Insurance adjusters may say that you don’t need an attorney. However, the only one that benefits from you not having a lawyer is the insurance company. If you’re like most people, your experience with interpreting insurance policies and winning high-stake negotiations is limited. Going toe-to-toe with an insurance adjuster is not a fair fight. You need help to level the playing field. Hoover Rogers Law can provide it.
Car accident lawyers like those at Hoover Rogers Law, LLP work on contingency. This means that there is no retainer or hourly rate for you to pay. Our fee comes out of your recovery, and if we don’t win, we don’t get paid.
Statistically, people who hire lawyers recover significantly more on average than those who don’t, even taking attorney’s fees into account. You can afford a lawyer. You can’t afford to go it alone.
While you heal, we deal with the insurance company
If you were injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident in the Wichita Falls and Lawton area, contact Hoover Rogers Law for a free case review. We can help you understand how the law applies to your specific situation and how much your claim is worth.
Take control of your future. Call, email, or chat online with us now to schedule a free case review with an experienced car accident attorney.