A car crash in Fort Lauderdale can result in bodily injuries, property damage, and other related losses. When you have suffered losses like these in an accident, you may wonder whether you qualify for compensatory damages. The best thing to do in the wake of a crash is to consult a reliable Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer.
This is simply because you will likely be filing your compensation claim with an insurance company and its adjusters. And insurers are not known to readily pay personal injury claims. In fact, the insurance adjusters handling car accident claims do their best to reject such claims or bring up various objections. The adjusters may also use a variety of tactics to pressure you into accepting low-ball offers.
This is why it is critically important that you understand the process of filing a claim and know what to expect from an adjuster. Here is a look at some tips and tricks that can prove very handy in dealing with adjusters.
Be Careful When Giving a Statement
Once you notify an insurance company about the crash, the insurance adjuster may contact you and ask you to provide a statement. You may think that the company simply wants to know your version of the events. However, in most cases, your statement will be used against you. The adjuster may ask you trick questions, force you to answer in a way that casts doubts on your claim, and then use these to claim that your injuries are not relevant or as severe as you say they are.
The good news is that you are not legally required to provide the insurance company of the adjuster with a statement. However, it is advisable that you give a statement but only when you have a lawyer with you. This will prevent the adjuster from asking tricky questions. As a general rule-of-thumb, keep your responses to a minimum and simply share details about your identification and contact when responding to the questions of the insurance company.
An adjuster will likely ask you to provide a recorded statement. It is best to refuse this demand. Also, make sure that you don’t share any irrelevant records with the company.
Let the Medical Records Do the Talking
When speaking about your injuries to the adjusters, keep it short and general. Do not provide specific details about your injuries. If the adjuster insists, let them know that you will provide the details in writing. The insurance adjuster may also ask you to provide your complete medical history. You are not bound to do so and the adjuster will very likely use the history to downplay the severity of your injuries.
Do Not Give In to Delays
When you suffer a crash, you may incur many unexpected expenses in lieu of your medical treatment, lost wages, and property damage. This can be daunting and may put you in financial distress. Insurance companies use this to pressure you into accepting a quick but low offer. You must not give in to this tactic. If you have a valid claim, you may be able to recover all your pre-settlement expenses once your claim is successful. So it is simply a matter of managing these expenses for the time being and not giving up your right to a fair settlement.
Do Not Accept the First Settlement Offer
The first settlement offer made by an insurance adjuster is nearly never fair. This is simply because it is the job of the adjusters to make sure you are paid as little as possible as a claimant for damages. So don’t accept the first offer from the adjuster and instead present your counter-offer. This counter-offer will ideally be slightly lower than the original amount of damages you sought. This is why it is legally advised that you should seek the maximum amount of damages in your demand letter. This allows you plenty of room to negotiate.
Hiring a Reliable Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been in an accident in Fort Lauderdale, FL, it is important that you seek legal help at the earliest. As noted above, insurance adjusters have many tricks they can use to pressure you into accepting unfair settlement offers. On your own, it can be incredibly hard for you to counter such tricks.
Here at Englander Peebles, we have been helping car accident victims in Fort Lauderdale for a long time. We help you recover the settlement amount that you deserve. In doing so, we work with you to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and counter any unfair objections raised by the company. Reach out to us today to book a free consultation and discuss your case with us.