Why Your Interaction with an Insurance Company Impacts Your Personal Injury Settlement

At Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, P.A., our Charlotte personal injury lawyers know each of our client’s interactions with an insurance company following a North Carolina accident can significantly impact the settlement they receive.

This is true because when negligence impacts someone’s well-being — whether in a vehicle collision or a slip-and-fall incident — they must pursue the liable party’s insurance coverage for their damages. This involves talking to an insurance representative who is highly trained in minimizing their employer’s risk. In short, it is the adjuster’s job to do all they can to pay injury victims as little as possible. This starts during the very first conversation.

Here are ways interactions with insurance representatives can impact an injury victim’s financial settlement.

Manipulating the Determination of Liability

Insurance providers are skilled at asking leading questions that sway the conversation in their favor. In addition, insurance adjusters often request recorded statements from claimants. While cooperating is important, you should be cautious about what you say during these statements. Anything you say can be used against you later if it contradicts your claim or the evidence, weakening your case and leading to a lower settlement or a denied claim.

Limiting Their Assessment of Damages

Insurance adjusters may tell an injury victim they are calling to see how they are doing — feigning legitimate concern for their well-being — so they can assess the extent of your injuries and damages to pay your claim.

The information you provide about your injuries, medical treatment, and related expenses can directly impact the amount of compensation you receive. You may obtain a lower settlement offer if you downplay your injuries or fail to document your medical expenses properly.

Applying Aggressive Negotiation Tactics

Insurance companies are skilled at negotiating settlements. Your interaction with them, including the statements you make and the evidence you present, can impact the negotiation process. If you are not well-prepared or knowledgeable about the value of your claim, you may accept a lower offer than you deserve because they tell you, “This is the best and final offer.”

Leave All Communication with the Insurance Company to Your Legal Representation

Insurance companies have teams of professionals working to protect their interests. Your interaction with them is crucial because it can affect the outcome of your claim. It is essential to be cautious, provide accurate information, document your injuries and expenses thoroughly, and consider seeking legal advice to ensure you receive fair and adequate compensation for your injuries and damages.

Our dedicated North Carolina personal injury attorneys can level the playing field, advocate for your rights, handle negotiations to ensure you are not taken advantage of, and help you avoid other common pitfalls in dealing with insurance companies.

Contact our personal injury attorneys in Charlotte at Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt by calling 704-377-3737 or contacting us online. We provide unique legal services tailored to each client’s needs and do not get paid unless you do.

Your Injury, Our Fight. How can we help you take a stand?

Because every case is different, the description of awards and cases previously managed by our law firm does not guarantee a similar outcome in current or future cases.