Do you know what to do if insurance tries to shortchange you after a car accident?
Car accidents can be both physically and emotionally traumatic experiences, and it’s natural to expect your insurance company to handle your claim promptly and fairly. If you’ve been a loyal customer for years, they should be on your side, and there shouldn’t be any reason for them to make the process difficult. Right?
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Schneider Williamson is a personal injury litigation firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm handles litigation, discovery, and mediation for a wide variety of personal injury cases, including slip and fall accidents, car accidents, traumatic brain injury, and more.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Insurance companies may significantly delay the process or attempt to deny your claim for various reasons.
If you’re facing the frustration of an insurance company that is trying to avoid paying you a fair settlement, it’s important to understand why this might be happening to you and what steps you can take to protect your rights.
3 Common Ways Insurance Companies May Try to Shortchange You After a Car Accident
There are several ways insurance companies may refuse to pay or delay a car accident settlement. In any of these circumstances, it’s essential to understand your rights so you can take appropriate action.
1. Denying Liability
The most common tactic insurance companies use to refuse or reduce settlement payouts is by disputing fault. Your insurance company may argue that you were at fault for the accident, even if you believe otherwise.
They may also question the severity of your injuries or try to claim that your injuries were pre-existing conditions and not related to the accident. In some cases, insurance companies will use this argument to dispute the reasonableness of your medical bills or claim certain treatments were unnecessary.
Tip #1: If you’ve been in a car accident, save all of your documentation related to the incident. This includes the other parties’ contact information, medical evaluations, medical bills, repair bills, and other expenses. This will be essential evidence to support the pursuit of full compensation for your claim.
2. Lowball Offers & Delays
Insurance companies use their own internal calculations to determine settlement amounts and will often propose settlement amounts that fail to account for expenses like medical treatment, long-term care, or the suffering inflicted by the accident.
While they would never admit this openly, insurance companies make these offers to protect their bottom line. They may shortchange injured individuals who are managing their claims on their own and are unaware of their full rights.
“One of the toughest scenarios we encounter is when car accident victims are struggling with lingering or long-term effects that weren’t identified or addressed in the settlement they signed. Most settlements include language stating the injured party will not pursue legal action in exchange for compensation, and that’s almost impossible to overturn unless there’s evidence of wrongdoing in the settlement process itself.”
— Campbell Williamson, Co-Founder and Partner, Schneider Williamson
Insurance companies may also arbitrarily delay the claims process in the hopes that injured individuals will become frustrated and accept a lower settlement offer.
Tip #2: Do not sign a settlement or agreement with your insurance company until you have had it reviewed by an attorney. It is extremely difficult to reopen a claim after a settlement is finalized, even if the agreed-upon amount is inadequate for the victim’s needs.
3. Denying Coverage
Depending on the circumstances of your Atlanta car accident, your insurance company may try to deny coverage by citing policy exclusions or arguing that the accident was not covered by the policy.
They may also use technicalities or loopholes in the policy to avoid paying a claim.
Tip #3: Consult a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who can pursue the compensation you’re entitled to from your insurance company and the at-fault parties.
How an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Determine What to Do if Insurance Tries to Shortchange You After a Car Accident
Consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney is crucial if you’re facing difficulties with your insurance company after a car accident.
In addition to leveraging your documentation of the accident’s aftermath (see Tip #1 above), your Atlanta car accident attorney can investigate the accident thoroughly to gather additional evidence and build a strong case. They will review police reports, medical records, and witness statements to determine liability and damages.
During the investigation, an attorney can help you identify all potential sources of compensation, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. An experienced attorney can also negotiate more effectively with the insurance company on your behalf to secure a fair settlement if adjusters attempt to deny or minimize your claim.
Also, if negotiations fail, your attorney can file a lawsuit to pursue your claim in court and represent you throughout the legal process, including pretrial motions, discovery, trial, and beyond.
In simple terms, the answer to what to do if insurance tries to shortchange you after a car accident in Atlanta is to contact Schneider Williamson. Our attorneys have decades of experience with car accident claims, insurance companies, and the processes necessary to maximize your compensation.
Has your insurance mistreated you or a loved one after an Atlanta car accident? Schedule a free chat with Schneider Williamson now to discuss your options.
