Preying on the Vulnerable—How Insurance Companies Get Away with Low Settlements

Let’s say you were in a car accident. A negligent driver was texting through a red light, they t-boned you, and caused serious damage to you and your vehicle. You’re now left attempting to put the pieces back together, which means fixing the damage done in the accident—including:

• Physical injuries

• Property damage

• Emotional damage

• Loss of enjoyment

• Lost wages

• Pain and suffering

The list goes on, and if you’ve been injured before in an accident due to no fault of your own, you are probably familiar with how quickly the associated bills pile up. While it may seem like a guarantee, seeking the compensation you deserve can be incredibly stressful and challenging, to say the least. Insurance companies want to maximize profits, and paying you out following an accident isn’t in their best interest, financially speaking.

To keep the amount they payout to a minimum, insurance companies often resort to manipulative tactics—simply because they know accident victims are in a crunch for cash, making them exceedingly vulnerable.

The Good Guy Approach

You’ve reported your accident, and now you’re waiting for a phone call from an insurance adjuster. The call comes in, and you’re greeted by someone who sounds like an old friend trying to catch up with how you’ve been. Insurance companies rely on building trust to get injured parties to lower their guard and provide them with information that can be used to lower their settlement value. Adjusters will often play strongly on your emotional, distressed state following your accident, doing everything they can to make you feel comfortable.

Most conversations with adjusters begin with a promise to help you recover as quickly as they can. You may hear something like, “We are extremely sorry to hear that this has happened. However, we are so happy that you’re insured with us when you need it most. We would love to help you get back to your normal routine as swiftly as possible. How does it sound if we take care of your medical bills completely, and on top of that we will throw in an additional $1,500 for your suffering?” This is an early offer, which is often set very low.

$1,500 is a substantial amount of money to a lot of people, and having medical bills taken off of their plate is a deal many cannot pass up. Once the offer has been accepted, the insurance company will send a form. This form is a release of liability, and once this has been signed and submitted, your case is closed. It doesn’t matter what additional bills come your way (which almost always happens), or what complications may arise, such as time away from work—once the form is signed, your case is closed.

Don’t Settle For Less

This is just a highlight of one of the many ways insurance companies may attempt to lower the amount they payout. At Aizenman Law Group, our team of trusted Tulsa personal injury attorneys has been helping individuals navigate their personal injury cases for countless years. We ensure that every client of ours avoids being taken advantage of and that the maximum possible compensation for their case is reached.

If you’ve been injured due to another’s negligence, give us a call before making any decisions with your insurer. We offer free consultations where we will listen to your story, answer any questions you have, and give you a plan to help you pursue the best possible outcome for your case.

Call us today 631-769-8431 to learn more about how we can help you recover.