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Tactics Insurance Companies Use To Deny and Devalue Claims and Tips to Counter Them
Tampa Med Mal & Injury Lawyers / Blog / Insurance Bad Faith / Tactics Insurance Companies Use To Deny and Devalue Claims and Tips to Counter Them

Tactics Insurance Companies Use To Deny and Devalue Claims and Tips to Counter Them

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After suffering injuries in an accident because of another party’s negligence, dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company can be a daunting experience. While you might hope that the insurance company will act fairly and promptly, the truth is that many insurers employ tactics to reduce the value of personal injury claims or get out of paying altogether. It is crucial to be aware of these tactics so you can take steps to protect your rights and ensure you recover the compensation you deserve. This article highlights four common tactics insurance companies use to deny and devalue personal claims. We also provide tips on how you can counter these tactics.

  1. Delaying the Claims Process

A common tactic insurance companies use is to delay the claims process. The insurance company may drag out the process to wear you down and push you into accepting a lower settlement or abandoning your claim. Delays may occur in several ways, including dragging out the investigation process, requesting excessive documents, or ignoring calls or emails. You can counter this tactic by;

  • Maintaining all correspondence with the insurance company
  • Working with a personal injury attorney
  • Following up with the insurance company
  1. Blaming the Injured Party

Insurance companies sometimes try to blame the claimant for their injuries to reduce their liability or escape liability altogether. This is especially likely in cases where fault is unclear. Under Florida law, if you are partially at fault for your injuries, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. And if you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any damages.

You can avoid being wrongly apportioned blame by;

  • Gathering evidence, including police or accident reports, photos of the accident scene, witness statements, and video footage
  • Avoiding admitting fault
  • Hiring an attorney to help you build a strong case
  1. Quick Settlement Offers

Another common tactic insurance companies use to get personal injury plaintiffs to accept less than they deserve is offering quick settlement offers. While this may seem appealing, especially when you’re struggling with medical bills, these offers are often less than the claim’s actual value. Insurers hope that by presenting a fast offer, plaintiffs will accept before understanding the full extent of their injuries and damages.

How to counter this tactic;

  • Don’t accept a settlement offer without consulting an attorney
  • Allow an attorney to assess the value of your claim
  • Wait until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) before considering accepting a settlement
  • Request a breakdown of the offer to see if there are areas that might have been overlooked or undervalued
  1. Misrepresenting or Misinterpreting Policy Language

Insurance policies can contain complex and confusing language. You may not know when the insurance company is misrepresenting or misinterpreting policy terms. The best way to counter this tactic is by hiring a skilled personal injury attorney. An experienced attorney can analyze the details of the policy and challenge any misrepresentations or misinterpretations.

Contact Us for Legal Help

At Gunn Law Group, P.A., we understand the tactics insurance companies use to get out of paying personal injury plaintiffs the compensation they deserve and are here to help. We can help protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 813-228-7070 or complete our online contact form to schedule a consultation.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0768/Sections/0768.81.html

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