The aftermath of a car accident can seem overwhelming. You are bombarded with medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and physical pain. During this time, you may be particularly vulnerable and open to accepting any insurance settlement that promises to bring immediate relief. Insurance adjusters know this and often offer low-ball settlements that can seem like a quick solution at the time. However, these offers are usually far less than you deserve because they ignore the future costs associated with ongoing treatments. They also rarely account for the wages you lost while recovering or the future income you’ll lose if your ability to work is impacted by long-term disability or chronic pain.
Understanding the tactics that insurance companies use in these situations can prevent you from settling too soon and for too little. This article will discuss the different tactics insurance adjusters use to pressure you to settle quickly after a car accident, and how Gash & Associates, P.C. in Westchester County can make them stop.
The Tactics of Insurance Adjusters
It’s important to understand that insurance adjusters are not evil or malicious. They are simply trained to protect the financial interests of their company. They want to settle every claim as quickly as they can and spend as little money as possible on each one.
A common way to do this is to contact you soon after the accident and imply that their first offer is their only offer. They’ll try to pressure you into accepting quickly before you’ve had a chance to assess the full extent of your injuries. However, it can sometimes take weeks or months to discover that the pain you’re experiencing isn’t going away. And it can take even longer to figure out if the long-term treatments your doctor prescribed are effective, or if more costly procedures will be required in the future.
Another tactic they use is to request a recorded statement from you shortly after the incident. They may say it’s a routine part of the process, but the goal is often to find inconsistencies in your story that could be used to minimize your claim. Remember that you are not obligated to provide a recorded statement without speaking to your attorney first. And anything you allow to be recorded could be used against you to reduce your compensation.
How Gash & Associates, P.C. Can Help
At Gash & Associates, P.C., our experienced car accident attorneys consider your current and future medical expenses, the wages you lost while recovering, and the pain and suffering your accident has caused to seek a settlement that covers all your needs. We handle the communications and negotiations with the insurance company, and are prepared to bring your case to court to secure the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been in a car accident and are facing pressure from insurance adjusters, contact Gash & Associates, P.C. today at (914) 328-8800 for a free consultation. Let our experienced team fight for the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.
