Are You Being Harassed by the Insurance Companies After a Car Accident in Wichita Falls?
If you have been injured in a car accident in Wichita Falls, you know how quickly
and often the insurance company for the person at fault will call you. The persistent phone calls requesting a recorded statement or for you to sign some of their forms can feel like harassment. Sometimes, they will tone it down a bit and be extra friendly just to get you to talk about the accident and your injuries, which they will then use against you to minimize your claim or even deflect from paying you anything at all.
What you need to remember is that the insurance company for the person who caused the accident is not your friend and they are not there to help you. They are there to pay you as little as possible and they are trained and equipped with tactics in order to accomplish that. This is exactly why you should talk with a Wichita Falls car accident lawyer before you talk to the insurance adjuster, sign any forms, or agree on any settlement. Our experienced personal injury lawyer will give you a free evaluation of your case and walk you step by step through the process. Call us today at 940-569-4000 or fill out our contact form to set up a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. At the very least, check out our article on how to deal with insurance companies and their adjusters.
How Do Insurance Companies Harass Victims of Car Accidents in Wichita Falls?
Like we said above, insurance companies have many tactics to deny or reduce claims. Being aware of these tactics and avoiding mistakes is difficult, which is why you need an experienced Wichita Falls car accident lawyer on your side. Here are the top things to be aware of when dealing with insurance companies after a car accident in Wichita Falls:
1. They Send You a General Medical Records Release
Insurance companies often send releases asking for permission to get your medical records. They will argue that they need to see your medical records before they will pay for your claim, which is true. They do have a right to view your medical records that are related to your injuries from that particular accident, but they do not have a right to your entire medical history.
Often times, they try to get you to sign a general form, which allows them access to all your medical records, which they will then use to try to find pre-existing conditions and other issues that they can attempt to use against you to minimize your claim. This is why you should not sign any forms from the insurance company that is requesting medical records without first speaking to a lawyer. If you do, they could use that information against you.
To avoid exposing yourself to these potentially detrimental tactics, you should consider consulting with an experienced Wichita Falls car accident lawyer before you speak with the adjuster or sign any forms. Our lawyer can help you retrieve the records for you, only provide what is necessary, and inform you of any potential problems that may arise. By avoiding this common mistakes you can increase your chances of getting a full recovery and not damaging your case in any way.
2. They Request a Recorded Statement
Another common practice of insurance companies is for them to call you and request information from you about the accident, specifically a recorded statement about what happened. Keep in mind that you do not have to comply with this. You are under no obligation to speak with the adjuster or give a recorded statement. However, if you are trying to settle your case on your own, you’ll eventually have to cooperate and give the insurance adjuster some information. If you choose this route, you should at least consult with an attorney first.
Just be aware that if you do speak with an adjuster, anything you say can and will likely be used against you. They will take the information you gave them and twist it to either minimize or deny your claim, so it is very important to be very cautious of what information you provide them. Our Wichita Falls car accident lawyer can help walk you through the process and provide you with helpful tips along the way.
3. They Request a Signed Release for Your Claim
Another thing the insurance companies will do is request for you to sign a claim release, which means you give up rights to pursue a legal claim against them. If you sign this release, you will be barred from seeking any further compensation, so if they ended up giving you a low-end settlement and you later find out your medical bills are going to be much higher than expected, you are out of luck.
If the insurance company is requesting for you to sign a release, you should contact a Wichita Falls car accident lawyer to take a look at your case and do an evaluation to see if it is the right thing to do.
4. They Offer You a Low-End Settlement
As we have said before, insurance companies are in the business of making money. Therefore, their goal is to pay as little as possible on your claim. This means getting you to settle quickly before you realize how extensive your injuries are and how high your medical bills will be. They also want you to settle before you talk with an attorney, who will likely advise you otherwise. This is why you shouldn’t ever accept the first settlement offer.
Contact a Wichita Falls Car Accident Lawyer Today
We understand that being in a car accident can turn your life upside down with constant pain, mounting medical bills, and persistent calls from insurance adjusters. These situations cause a lot of stress and many people don’t know where to begin. Our Wichita Falls car accident lawyer can take all that stress away and handle the entire process for you so you can focus on getting better.
Contact us today at 940-569-4000 or fill out our contact form to set up a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will give you a free evaluation of your case and offer you helpful information. You can also download our free book, The Traveler’s Guide to the Universe of Personal Injury.