When you’re injured in a car accident, it can be a relief for you and your family that you have insurance coverage. That policy should help you recover after an Orange County car accident. But the insurance company may not be willing to cover the costs of your injuries. It may instead try to negotiate a lower settlement, leaving you with the remainder of the costs.
When you’re hurt in a car accident, you need an insurance settlement that covers all your related losses. Below are some insurance negotiating tactics to watch for after an accident and how a lawyer can help you maximize your settlement.
Lowballing Your Settlement
Your insurance settlement after an accident should cover all the losses you’ve suffered because of the accident. So you may be shocked when you receive a low settlement offer and are told that’s the insurance company’s best offer.
Insurance companies want to make a profit, and paying out for your insurance settlement doesn’t help their profits. Because of this, these companies may offer you a low settlement, expecting you to take it. For example, your broken bone settlement may barely cover your hospital bills, and it may cover none of your rehabilitation costs. You may be due more, and your lawyer can help you seek that compensation.
Delays to Your Car Accident Settlement
But that’s not the only way insurance companies may use bad-faith tactics to lower your insurance settlement. They may answer slowly, dragging out your settlement until you’re desperate and willing to take any amount. They may even refuse to settle with you.
In these situations, you may need an Orange County lawyer’s help to take action for your insurance claim. If the company still refuses to work with you or delays your settlement, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against the company. Your injury lawyer can help you build a claim and take it to court.
Shared Fault
California is a fault state, which means your part in the accident may matter. If you were found partly at fault for the accident, the insurance company may try to reduce the value of your settlement.
For example, the other driver may claim you were texting and driving. If you don’t dispute this claim, that may reduce the settlement you receive for your injuries. Rather than accepting a decrease in your insurance settlement, you can work with a lawyer to maximize your claim. They can help you gather evidence that you were driving safely before the car accident happened.
Talk to a Lawyer Before You Negotiate with Your Insurer
Negotiating with your insurance company can be difficult. The adjuster may engage in tricky insurance negotiating tactics you need to watch for after an accident. If you don’t, it’s easy to lose the funds you need for a full recovery.
The lawyers at Kohan & Bablove LLP can help you protect your claim. Before you negotiate with an insurance company, take advantage of a free consultation by calling 1-844-404-2400 or by completing the online contact form below.
