Tactics an Adjuster May Use to Lowball Your Accident Claim
Posted Thursday, September 5, 2013 by Chris Thayer
Unfortunately, you may encounter an insurance adjuster who lowballs your injury claim. A Seattle personal injury attorney will work to help prevent you from falling prey to common lowballing tactics like the following.
The Company Policy TacticSeattle personal injury attorneys often deal with adjusters who claim certain items just simply won’t be compensated. These items may include:lost wages due to injury related time off;gas mileage to and from your doctor’s office;long distance calls placed to the adjuster;court costs if the injured party is a minor child.Your Seattle personal injury lawyer will explain why an automatic or company policy denial of these claims is improper. Insurance companies must deal with you in good faith. If any of the above items were caused by or incurred as a result of your accident or injury, they should not be denied in bad faith.
The Hardship Case TacticUnscrupulous adjusters may prey on weak claimants. If you are unemployed or have a low income, they may feel you will accept a low settlement amount in desperation. Let a Seattle personal injury attorney advise you whether any offers made are reasonable. Even less savory, if you suffer from a terminal illness, this may cause an adjuster to lowball your claim if he assumes you won’t survive until trial. Your Seattle personal injury attorney can respond for you.
The “Undeserving” Claimant TacticExpect the adjuster to research your background. If the adjuster thinks a jury wouldn’t like you (perhaps you’re already wealthy), they may use this against you. Again, your Seattle personal injury attorney can address these issues.
While no lawyer can guarantee your case will settle, you can avoid falling victim to improper lowballing tactics with good legal advice.
Contact a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer for AssistanceIf you have been injured in an accident and someone else is at fault, you may be able to gain compensation. An experienced Seattle personal injury attorney can advocate for you. Contact Chris Thayer today at (206) 340-2008.