Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney Blog | Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis LLP

Insurance companies use many tactics to attempt to get off with paying the least amount possible for your automobile accident. Here are some of the tactics they use:

Offering Cash Up Front--many insurers know that a big lump of cash can cloud the judgment of accident victims. They count on your response of "think of what I can do with that money," to keep you from really tallying up all your costs from the accident. Be assured that whatever they offer up front is below both what they are willing to pay and what you deserve.

Getting You to Settle All Bills at the Same Time--one of the ways insurance companies try to reduce their costs is by getting you to settle your medical claim the same time you settle your auto claim. But if you suffered a serious injury as a result of your accident, the chances are that your medical bills are not all in, yet. It is easy to tell what's wrong with a car--it's a lot harder to tell what's wrong with a human being. Don't settle until you really know the extent of your injuries.

Trying to Get You to Take Blame--Insurance reps from the other driver will call you to try and get you to say something that will magnify your fault in the accident. Not talking to them can damage your claim, but make sure you discuss only the bare, truthful facts of the accident. Do not elaborate, embellish, postulate, or surmise about anything you do not know to be true.

Denying Coverage--Auto insurance companies will sometimes try to get you to take injuries on your own health insurance, rather than their coverage. However, they should pay first and only then should the payment be applied to your health insurance. Also, they may not inform you if one or more of the other drivers has umbrella coverage, or if more than one policy may cover damage, as in a truck accident, where the trucker, shipping company, freight loader, maintenance company, etc. may have insurance policies that are pertinent to your accident.

Homogenizing Your Injury--Insurance companies think they know what everything costs. They have a database that tells them so. But your serious injury may not be like the other ones in their database, even if it has the same name. If your injury requires special treatment, the insurance company may try to get you to share the cost, but you don't have to accept their estimate.

Discounting Your Pain--Don't forget the pain and suffering you incurred as a result of the accident. You are entitled to compensation for what you went through, above and beyond the mere cost of medical treatment. This includes loss of time with your family, and any recreational activities you missed as a result of your accident. Insurance companies may also politely ignore the fact that you missed work while recovering. Don't let them. Take account of lost time in terms of not only wages but vacation / sick leave days lost.

Denying that You Should Talk to a Lawyer--If you suffered any injuries in your accident, even just pain and stiffness, you should see a doctor. And if you see a doctor, you should see a lawyer to make sure you are getting full compensation from the insurance company. The main weapon insurance companies have in their arsenal for lowballing claims is your presumed ignorance of what compensation you deserve. An experienced lawyer, on the other hand, knows how much you deserve and can do their utmost to get every penny for you.

If you have been hurt in an automobile or truck accident, contact the experienced vehicle accident lawyers at Pomerantz, Perlberger, and Lewis, LLP today for a free initial consultation and case evaluation.