When an individual suffers injury from a truck accident, insurance companies step in to manage the bills and settlement money. However, insurance companies are not your friends; they’re in the business of saving as much money as possible, and their objective is to pay out as little as possible.
They employ tricks, sometimes sneaky and sometimes confusing, to get people to settle for less money than they deserve. This is why it’s important to contact Jacoby & Meyers.
They understand the most common tactics insurance companies use to make you settle for less than you deserve. In this article, you’ll get to know the common tactics insurance companies use to reduce settlement amounts.
They Act Super Friendly at First
One of the oldest tricks in the book is the ‘nice guy act.’ An insurance adjuster might call you and talk sweetly. They’ll say things like:
- We just want to help
- We’ll take care of everything
- No need to get a lawyer
But why do they do this? Because they are hoping you’ll believe them and accept a small settlement quickly. Friendliness doesn’t mean fairness; an adjuster’s job is to save the company money, not to help you recover fully.
They Offer a Quick, But Very Small Settlement
Now, imagine breaking your arm and someone handing you a small candy bar to make up for it. That’s how early settlements work. Insurance companies want you to take money before you know how bad your injuries really are. They hurry the settlement process because you may not know:
- How long will you need treatment
- That you will miss more work later
- You may require further surgeries
Once they make an offer to you and you accept quickly, you cannot ask for more, even if your injuries worsen afterwards.
They Try to Blame You
Another ordinary trick is the shift of blame. They may say:
- You were going a little too fast
- You could have avoided the crash
- You weren’t paying attention
They try to reduce the percentage of blame, even if their truck driver was clearly at fault, in order to reduce the amount they must pay. This is what is called comparative fault. The more blame they put on you, the smaller your settlement becomes.
They Downplay Your Injuries
Insurance adjusters often act like your injuries are not serious. They say things like:
- Those injuries don’t appear that bad
- Your pain is normal
- You don’t need that much treatment
This is a trick to make the case appear weak. Sometimes, they even hire doctors who will write reports saying your injuries are mild or pre-existing. This is to lower your settlement even more.
They Drag the Case
Some insurance companies deliberately drag their feet when dealing with such cases. They delay paperwork, don’t return calls, or misplace important documents intentionally. They’re hoping you’ll get exhausted, frustrated, or desperate and will finally agree to a lower offer.
This tactic works on people who require money fast and don’t want to seek the services of truck accident lawyers.
Conclusion
- Insurance companies may act friendly or offer quick settlements to get you to accept less than you deserve.
- They often try to shift blame onto you to reduce the amount they have to pay.
- Adjusters may downplay your injuries or claim they are not serious to lower your settlement.
- Some insurers intentionally delay the process, hoping you’ll settle out of frustration.
