We’ve implored our fellow Alaskans to never, under any circumstances, attempt to negotiate with the insurance provider of the person, business or organization that has caused an injury. The gist of our argument is that the insurance adjustors who contact you are in no way truly interested in you, your health, or what you’re facing in terms of the financial hole that medical bills and lost wages can quickly place you in.
In this issue, the Alaska personal injury lawyers with Barber & Associates will unveil the curtain and share a few of the tricks that insurance representatives prefer in either denying or delaying your being paid, getting you to settle for far less than you deserve.
How Insurance Adjusters Get You to Settle For Less
- Getting you to admit to being partially responsible for your injuries.
If the insurance adjuster can get you on record agreeing that you contributed in some way to the accident that led to your injuries, any compensation you receive could be significantly less than what you’re entitled.
Here in Alaska, we have what’s known as a Pure Comparative Negligence Law, and many insurance providers go to great lengths to exploit it. Even if you had nothing to do with the cause of the accident, any damages you’re entitled to can be reduced proportionately if the insurance adjuster can convince you to say otherwise – or even allude to it.
- The adjuster will try to convince you to authorize the release of your medical records.
While their insurance adjustor will assure you that the request for your medical records is merely to verify your treatment for the accident that caused your injuries, they are often really after your complete medical history.Anything they find – including a previous neck or back injury, degenerative disease, concussion, etc. – can be claimed as the true cause of your current suffering. - Slow walk your claim to get you to eventually settle for less.
Again, insurance adjusters are professional negotiators who have a good idea of the treatment you’re receiving based upon the type of accident and injuries you experienced. They know that you’ll be more likely to settle for less if they just delay any payment while your medical bills continue to mount.To put it bluntly, the longer they can make you suffer, the more likely you are to accept their low-ball offer. - If you wait to seek medical treatment, obviously your injuries aren’t severe.
We encourage victims of all accident to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible, even if symptoms of injuries do not immediately appear. A medical doctor will know exactly what to look for during your examination based on the type of accident you were involved in.If you wait to see a doctor, the insurance provider may question the seriousness of your injuries. - Try to convince you not to consult with an Alaska personal injury lawyer.
Perhaps this one should be higher on the list because of its importance. If you do not have legal representation, insurance providers may see you as easy prey, and attempt to take advantage of any perception on your part of your legal rights.
If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s fault, call the Alaska personal injury lawyers at Barber & Associates.
When you’re injured, your primary concern should be about your recovery. Because of that, the smart move is to leverage the skill and expertise of the Alaska personal injury lawyers at Barber & Associates.
When it comes to negotiating with insurance adjustors, the only thing many of them respond to is aggressiveness, and we will definitely be aggressive in securing for you the proper compensation you deserve.
For a free consultation, call us at 907-276-5858 or email us.