Beware of Sharks After Your Car Accident
Right after a car accident, you may not know what to do. Whatever you do don’t fall for this sneaky trick by insurance companies.
When you think of sharks and car accidents, you probably think I mean, lawyers. Some lawyers even refer to themselves as sharks, but in this article, I’m referring to a totally different predator — the Insurance Adjuster.
After an accident more and more insurance companies are taking on this tactic to take advantage of unsuspecting accident victims.
The insurance company realizes most people have absolutely no idea what to do after an accident or what normal even is. You’re inexperience allows them to exploit you.
Here is the tactic in question… enter the shark
An insurance adjuster will call you immediately after they find out about your accident. Often they ask to meet you in your home, office or at a coffee shop right away. Their demeanor is urgent and insistent. You get the sense that this must be done right away and you have no choice. They will then ask you a few cursory questions about the accident and take a recorded statement. Afterwards, they will propose to you a settlement offer right away. Most likely they will have a check pre-printed with your name on it and hand it to you!
You probably haven’t had time to see a doctor yet or even know what’s wrong with you or how long your treatment will be or how much it will cost. But they will make an offer to you of anywhere between $500 and $2000 and ask you to sign a release right away. Once you sign the release you are done. Case closed.
If the adjuster is very generous, they may also tell you that they will include some medical treatment of between $1,000 and $5,000 in addition to the small cash settlement they will give you. They make it seem like this is normal and very generous on their part and that they are helping you.
This Insurance Adjuster is a Bloodthirsty Predator Just Like a Shark
The adjuster that’s making the offer is who I call a shark because your recent accident is like blood in the water. They smell it and come swarming towards you and try to gobble you up before you even know what happens.
If you decline their offer, they may try a few more times and push you harder. Sharks are aggressive. Their nature may change and turn from your friend trying to help you to downright nasty and snap at you for rebuffing them.
Did You Know that Many Sharks Will Leave You Alone if You Bonk Them on the Nose?
If you continue to resist them, just like a shark, they’ll eventually swim away and leave you alone. After a week or so you’ll receive a call from an entirely different adjuster. You see, the shark swims in quickly tries to get a quick settlement and then leave. This is a especially trained adjuster who gets bonuses for settling cases quickly and under value.
Why is this Tactic So Bad for You?
First off, you haven’t been to a doctor yet so you have no idea what your injuries are, how long they will take to treat or what the total cost will be.
Secondly, you have no idea what your case is worth if you haven’t seen a doctor yet because settlements are based on how much medical damage you have suffered. A true case value can’t be made until you have finished all of your medical care.
Insurance Companies Will Never Offer One of These Settlements Upfront That is to Your Advantage
The average cost of a small case is $5,000 in medical treatment and the settlement is generally around $10,000 or more. Obviously, larger cases involve more medical treatment and the case would be valued much higher. Now you can see that the $500 settlement with $1,000 in medical bills is so bad.
So What Do You Do When You’re in an Accident and a Shark Comes Swimming After You.?
Punch them in the nose! Just kidding.
First, know that you have rights. You have two years in California to accept an offer or file a lawsuit. That gives you time. So don’t feel rushed by the shark. There is no urgency on your part. The shark is in a rush because he wants a bonus for settling quick and for little money.
Second, they cannot settle or close your case without your agreement.
Third, if you resist their offer, the shark will eventually swim away. Afterwards, you will have a regular adjuster who does not put pressure on you. They simply wait for you to conclude your treatment and then negotiate your settlement.
Inform them that you’re going to see a doctor for treatment and once you’re done with treatment you will call them.
Consult a Car Accident Specialist
The doctor you should see should be a specialist in car accident injuries. They know how this game is played. Share any offers, emails or letters from the insurance company with them. Discuss whether or not in their professional opinion if this is a good settlement for you.
In the odd chance that they are offering plentiful medical benefits, and a good cash settlement to you, it may be worth taking the offer because it’s upfront and saves time. But 99% of the time they’re going to lowball the medical treatment and short you greatly on the cash settlement.
So Why Not Just Hire a Lawyer Right Away?
In my opinion, after 38 years of being a car accident chiropractor, always see a doctor, before seeing a lawyer.
Your case revolves around medical damages. Until you see a doctor, you have no idea what your medical damages are. In fact, you don’t know what your medical damages are until you’re well under treatment because it’s not uncommon after a month or so of treatment to need other testing such as an MRI or nerve testing.
Lawyers will tell you otherwise, they will say contact them immediately before anybody else and frankly that’s because it’s in their best interest.
What’s in your best interest as the victim and injured party, is to first see a competent car accident specialist doctor to get a good diagnosis and a rough idea of how long you’ll be treating and what the cost will be. Afterwards you can decide whether or not you need a lawyer.
There are different types of lawyers, all competing for personal injury cases. Some manage small to medium cases while others are only interested in the largest of cases. Some can take your case to trial if need be, while others are not trial lawyers so they just settle no matter what.
Sharks, Sharks and More Sharks!
There are many lawyers out there who you should steer clear of. They will take any case at all. Then send you to see one of their doctors usually in a “clinic type setting.” They will provide substandard care to a predetermined price and then release you whether you’re better or not. The lawyer then makes a small settlement with the insurance company and divides the money up. Settlements from these attorneys are usually no better than what the insurance shark offered you upfront. And it can take upwards of a year or more for them to settle these cases. That means you could potentially be surrounded by different types of sharks!
Your trusted car doctor will have attorneys that they have worked with in the past successfully to refer you to. And they will know based on what your injuries are, which lawyer would be best for your particular case.
To learn more about car accident injuries and how to avoid making the most common mistakes download a Free Report: 7 Mistakes Car Accident Victims Make That Damage Their Claim
