Dealing with an insurance company after a car accident is often a complicated process. Within a few days after the accident, an insurance adjuster may call you with an initial settlement offer. While this may seem like good news to you, a seasoned car accident attorney can tell you that this initial offer may not be as exciting as it sounds. No matter how reasonable the offer may seem, the value is usually just a fraction of the amount you deserve.
Before engaging in further talks with the insurance company, you should be aware of several things to help you safeguard your interests. Insurance companies will often use professional insurance adjusters to evaluate your case to offer you the lowest amount that you might accept. To protect your legal rights and understand the full value of your case, it is advisable to talk to a lawyer who could help you deal with Missouri City insurance companies after a car accident.
Some of the things you should know about insurance companies operating in Missouri City include:
Regardless of how nice the insurance company may seem, they are in the business to make profit for their employer. This means that they will not necessarily look out for your interests. The insurance adjuster’s work is to protect and safeguard the interests of the insurance company. For this reason, he or she will minimize the amount payable on claims. If an insurance adjuster can close your car accident case with you accepting less than the true value of your case, they will have done a good job for their employer.
The sad state of affairs when dealing with Missouri City insurance companies after a car accident is that they are not obligated to expeditiously work on your case. While there are rules in Texas that protect against insurance companies delaying the proper payout of claims, insurance companies are not required to offer you a reasonable amount. Even if the other motorist accepts fault for the auto accident, your local insurance company may not respond quickly or fairly to your demands for full justice.
The aftermath of a car accident requires the responsible party to pay medical bills and other related expenses, such as pain and suffering. Many car accident victims are desperate for financial assistance, and the nearby insurance companies know this very well. For this reason, the first offer will be a lowball to test the waters. Many people go along with whatever the insurance company says, including their evaluation of the injuries stemming from the car crash.
Accepting the initial offer may be your downfall as your medical bills may continue to pile up in the future. Sadly, after you accept their offer, you cannot file a second claim for future medical bills or pain and suffering.
In a bid to minimize the settlement owed to you, insurance companies will often try to evade paying your full medical bills. They may argue that they charged you too much or that your injuries and treatment are related to a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies make this argument especially when you don’t seek a medical evaluation immediately after an accident.
To avoid this, you should always seek medical help when you feel pain and be sure to follow up with your treatment plan as advised by your doctor. And while you are treating, you should keep track of every doctor or medical organization you visit.
Insurance companies may ask you questions about the accident and how it happened. They may phrase these questions in a manner that makes you agree to their perspective on the accident. Remember that anything that you say can and will be used against you later on in your claim.
No matter how good or reasonable their argument may seem, you should never agree to giving a recorded statement without seeking legal counsel from an experienced accident lawyer.
Every state has a statute of limitations which defines the period within which car accident claims must be made. If this time lapses, it is unlikely you will be able to file a legal claim against the party responsible for the accident. The statute of limitations in this state is usually two years. Insurance companies know this limitation very well.
If you do not come to an agreement with the insurance company on the value of your case, they do not have to follow up with you. Days may turn to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years before they call you again to address your claim. Once the statute of limitations is over, they cannot be compelled to pay your injuries. To avoid this, a vehicle collision lawyer can file a petition with the court to preserve the time to negotiate your claim with the insurance company.
You should never be on your own when facing Missouri City insurance companies after a car accident. Handling such cases requires legal expertise, more so in addressing the valuation of your injuries. Our car accident lawyers are here to help you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated attorneys.
