Insurance Companies Aren’t Your Friend

You’re in good hands. Like a good neighbor. Insurance companies do a good job of making you think they’re on your side. Unfortunately, my law firm has seen time and time again that insurance companies care more about their bottom line than the injury victims who rely on insurance payouts to help them get through extremely difficult times.

In fact, my firm recently published a news story detailing some of the ways insurance companies use computer software to manipulate the details of your auto or home injury claim. This allows them to pay you less than what you deserve for your injuries. These software programs work in a couple of different ways. They encourage insurance adjusters to:

• second-guess injury determinations from doctors and choose injury codes that produce a lower payout. Adjusters can do this even if they haven’t undergone any formal medical training or certification process.
• downplay the severity of an injury and ignore the likelihood that the injured individual may need future medical treatment or will be permanently disabled, thus lowering their payments.

These tactics are designed to only help the insurance company’s bottom line. People injured in accidents need claim payouts that relate to their actual injuries. Without the proper compensation, victims may not be able to afford future medical treatment or the costs associated with being permanently disabled.

If you’re injured in an accident that isn’t your fault, it’s important to remember that the insurance company is not your friend. Insurance companies want to save money and protect their own interests, not give you the compensation you need and deserve.

I’ve compiled a list of some of my firm’s resources on how to deal with insurance companies:

• Secrets That Car Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know will explain the insurance industry’s “delay, deny, and defend” practice, provide you with tips for dealing with insurance companies, and show you research indicating that injured victims get more money when they hire a lawyer.
• If you’re in a car accident, the What Should I Say? What Should I Sign? page offers advice for dealing with the other driver’s insurance company so that you aren’t tricked into accepting a settlement that is less than what you deserve.
• Our Pennsylvania Car Insurance page will help those living in PA choose the right car insurance policy as well as answer some common car insurance questions. If you don’t live in PA, you can check out our page dedicated to state-by-state car and motorcycle insurance laws to make sure you are in compliance with your state’s insurance requirements.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you deserve compensation that will cover your medical bills and lost wages. Don’t let the insurance company trick you into accepting less than what you deserve. It’s in your best interest to speak to an attorney before dealing with an insurance company to make sure your rights are protected.