Insurance companies are in the business of making money.
When insurance companies deal with injury claims, they will pull out all the stops to minimise how much they need to pay out to victims of accidents. Draconian offers to cunning delays. These are just some of the tactics insurance companies use to decrease your settlement.
Even worse?
Few people ever recognize these techniques before it’s too late. They have already signed away THOUSANDS (sometimes hundreds of thousands) of dollars that they were owed.
But here’s the good news…
After reading how these techniques work, you’ll easily recognize them. Below are the most typical strategies insurance companies use to lowball you and how to combat them.
Here’s what’s inside:
- Why Insurance Companies Play These Games
- The Most Common Tactics Used Against You
- How A Wrongful Death Claim Gets Devalued
- Protecting Your Injury Claim
Why Insurance Companies Play These Games
Insurance companies are not on your side.
The number one priority of insurance companies is protecting their profits. If they pay out less money, more money stays in their pockets. The CDC reported 197,449 deaths caused by unintentional injuries in 20 24. Accidents are the third leading cause of death in America.
Now think about how many injury claims come out of numbers like that…
Millions of people. And insurance companies know that most people who make claims don’t know their rights. That’s why they play these games — because most people will back down.
Higher stakes are involved if you’ve lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence and are filing a wrongful death claim. In wrongful death cases, it’s wise to let a Dallas personal injury attorney help evaluate your wrongful death claim and prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of you during your life’s worst moment.
The Most Common Tactics Used Against You
Learn exactly how insurance adjusters work everyday to minimize injury claims payouts.
The Quick Lowball Offer
This is the oldest trick in the book.
An adjuster calls right after the accident. They seem nice and helpful. Then they make you a huge settlement offer.
Here’s the catch:
That offer will almost always be less than your claim is worth. Adjusters lowball you because they know:
- Bills are already piling up
- Victims are stressed and want the case over
- The full extent of the injuries isn’t known yet
- Most people have no idea what a fair settlement looks like
When you sign, you are closing your case. Even if the injuries are severely worse than originally thought, you cannot reopen the case for more money.
Delay, Delay, Delay
If the lowball offer doesn’t work, they’ll try to wear you down.
They lose your paperwork. They don’t return phone calls. They ask you for the same piece of information three times. They unnecessarily delay matters for months (or years), hoping you’ll just settle for less money so you can go away.
Why it works:
Doctors don’t wait. Rent doesn’t wait. Stress piles up and eventually people buckle under and accept less than they’re entitled to.
Disputing Liability
No matter how blatant the fault may seem, the insurance company will attempt to place some (if not all) of the responsibility back on the injured party.
They might argue:
- The victim was partially at fault for the accident
- The victim should have avoided the situation
- The victim’s own actions made the injuries worse
Moving the liability even 20% away from you can reduce your settlement significantly. That’s why they’re playing this card so heavily.
Downplaying Injuries
One of adjusters favorite tactics is arguing your injuries are not as severe as you claim they are. Some typical adjuster statements include:
- Injuries were pre-existing
- Medical treatment wasn’t necessary
- The pain is being exaggerated
- Recovery should have already happened by now
Some insurance companies will even employ their own “medical experts” to discredit the treating doctor’s report. Just to minimize the value of the claim.
Recorded Statements
Adjuster calls and wants to take an “uninterrupted” recorded statement about the accident. Nothing wrong with that, right?
It’s not.
Anything you say can (and will) be used against you to minimize the claim. “I feel better today” can become “the victim stated their injuries have subsided” in a settlement discussion. Resist the temptation.
Digging Through Social Media
That vacation photo posted last week? The insurer probably saw it.
Adjusters will search social media accounts of claimants to find anything that would undermine an injury claim. They will use innocent postings against you.
How A Wrongful Death Claim Gets Devalued
Filing a wrongful death claim is one of the hardest things a family will ever do. Insurance companies know it too.
They use it against grieving families.
Common tactics used against wrongful death claim families include:
- Rushing families into quick settlements while they’re grieving
- Undervaluing the economic contributions of the deceased
- Disputing whether the death was actually caused by the accident
- Challenging the emotional damages claimed by surviving family members
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of wrongful death claim cases in the US. Insurance companies process millions of these claims every year. They know all the pressure points to push on you. That’s why it’s so important to have someone fighting for you who knows wrongful death claim negotiation.
Protecting Your Injury Claim
Now for the good part. There are ways to fight back against these tactics.
Statistics indicate that claimants who are represented by an attorney settle for 3.5 times more money than those who represent themselves. After attorney fees are deducted, claimants with representation walk away with nearly three times the money.
Why the huge gap?
Insurance companies will take you seriously if you have a lawyer. They don’t take you nearly as seriously when you don’t have one. Attorneys send the message that:
- The claimant understands what the case is worth
- Lowball offers won’t fly
- The case is ready to go to court if needed
Here are a few simple ways to protect an injury claim:
Don’t accept the first offer. It will almost always be a lowball. Figure out what your case is worth before considering any offer.
Document, document, document. Medical expenses, lost pay, pictures of your injuries, contact info on witnesses. The more proof you have, the less likely an insurance company will be able to fight your claim.
NEVER give a recorded statement. Seriously. Don’t do it. Not unless your attorney reviews the situation first. Friendly conversation? Not likely.
Watch what you say on social media. Assume anything you post can be used against the claim. When you doubt, don’t shout.
See a doctor. Insurance companies love clients who don’t go to the doctor or delay treatment. They will use this as proof that your injuries aren’t significant.
Putting It All Together
Insurance companies resort to these tricks because they prey on people who are ignorant.
The fact is injury victims are stacked against from the beginning. Adjusters know how to lowball you. It’s their job.
But knowing what they’re up to changes the game.
Whether you have a basic auto claim or a wrongful death claim after losing your loved one — educate yourself. It’s the first step to receiving fair compensation. Let insurance companies know they can’t bully you into accepting a fraction of what your case is worth.