- April 11, 2024
Dealing with an insurance adjuster after a car accident is one of the most stressful parts of the entire ordeal. The main reason for this is that the adjuster’s goal is not to help car accident victims get a fair settlement, but reduce their claim amount as much as they can – or even deny it. This is why you should always hire an experienced Greenville car wreck lawyer to represent you during a claim.
Without an attorney, the insurance adjuster will take advantage of your vulnerable state after the crash and your lack of knowledge of the laws protecting your rights. The most common tactics they use to trick you out of the rightful compensation you deserve are:
1. They Pressure You into Signing a Quick Settlement Agreement
Many car accident victims get a visit from the insurance adjuster while they are still in hospital. They are already under the influence of pain medication and other drugs prescribed by their doctor – thus in no capacity to make a decision on claim settlements.
This is exactly what the adjuster counts on when they offer the person a paper to sign, saying that this is their way of keeping things by resolving the claim without further formalities.
Never sign anything an adjuster gives you! The settlement they offer is just a fraction of your actual damages. And once you accept the deal, you’ve lost any other legal options to recover the difference.
2. They Claim You Were at Fault for the Accident
South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule for car accident claims. This means that you have to be 50% or less at fault in order to have the right to file a claim. If you are found to be 51% at fault, you lose the right to recover damages.
For an experienced adjuster, it is not very hard to interpret the facts of your case in a manner that indicates you as the at-fault driver. It takes an equally experienced attorney to disprove the adjuster’s claims and prove that the other driver was actually more negligent than you in causing the crash.
3. The Adjuster Asks for a Recorded Statement
Many adjusters ask you to give a recorded statement of what happened during the accident. You won’t be able to talk freely, but answer questions the adjuster asks. These questions are very tricky. Some of them are reformulated in order to get you to contradict yourself.
Other questions are misleading to determine you to admit fault for the accident or say something that makes you appear negligent at the moment of the crash.
You should never give any kind of statement to an adjuster before you consult with a Greenville car wreck lawyer.
4. The Adjuster Will Blame Your Injuries on a Pre-Existing Condition
Adjusters will often ask you to talk about your medical history. They will ask things like:
- Is this your first car crash?
- Have you been in the hospital before?
- Do you suffer from any health condition?
They are not really caring and compassionate – on the contrary. The moment when you disclose an old injury or pre-existing condition, they will say that this is the source of your current symptoms. And they will deny your claim.
5. They Will Delay Making a Decision
When an adjuster cannot convince you to accept a lowball offer or is not able to find grounds to deny your claim, they will stop communicating with you. Weeks and months pass and you hear nothing about your claim.
Phone calls and emails are not answered and you cannot get hold of the adjuster handling your claim. This waiting game will go on until the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit – 2 years after your car accident – nearly expires. At this point you will get either an even lower offer than the initial one, or the denial of your claim.
At this point, it is too late to do anything. This is why legal representation is essential: a lawyer will never let an adjuster get away with the delay tactic. If they refuse to start negotiations, the attorney will threaten them with a lawsuit.
Let a Skilled Greenville Car Wreck Lawyer Handle Your Case!
Car accident victims should get fair compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. This is the firm belief of any Greenville car wreck lawyer at our law firm. And this is why we fight on behalf of every client, until we negotiate the compensation they deserve.
Do not let an insurance adjuster take advantage of you! Call us to schedule a free case review at 864-310-7897!
