Many consider bicycle accidents to be minor accidents. In reality, bicycle accidents are not always minor. Sometimes, bicycle accidents can be catastrophic. Some of the consequences of bicycle accidents are:
- Serious injuries, including the brain, soft tissue, and bone damage
- Inability to work, resulting in a loss of income
- Inability to take care of kids and loved ones
- Long-term depression, pain, and suffering
Many major bicycle accidents occur in large cities like San Jose. This city is the focal point of political and economic activity, making it a central transportation hub. However, the giant transportation system makes it unreliable for everyone and especially for small vehicle owners like bicyclists. Following a bicycle accident, an insurance adjuster will contact you to compensate you for your injuries. The sad part is that these insurance adjusters will try to lowball you. This is why hiring a bicycle accident lawyer from San Jose following an accident is important.
Why Do Insurance Adjusters Offer Low Settlements for Your Claim?
Insurance consultants or insurance adjusters are hired by insurance companies to examine your damage and injuries, evaluate them, and determine how much the company should pay you for your claim.
Once you file a claim, they are the first ones to deal with it and are meant to show the least compassion for your damage. Their job is to minimize your claim to save their companies from paying huge compensations.
Here are 6 techniques an insurance adjuster may use to lowball a bicycle accident victim.
Using the Victim’s Delay in Seeking Medical Assistance Following the Accident
A gap between the date of the accident and the date of treatment received may work against the plaintiff. The lack of sufficient medical records for diagnosis and treatment gives insurance adjusters the upper hand when discussing compensations.
Using Your Own Words Against You
The role of an insurance adjuster is to investigate insurance claims and help accident victims receive compensation. They ask a series of questions to learn more about the accident. People who have submitted claims for insurance may think it is necessary to answer all the questions truthfully. The main reason this is not advisable is that the answers may be used against the plaintiff, leading to a lower compensation amount.
Acting Too Friendly
Once the news of an accident reaches the insurance company, they will try to get in touch with the plaintiff on very short notice. The insurance adjuster will engage in a friendly conversation with the plaintiff to get on their good side. Oftentimes, this tactic is used to find reasons that can be used against the plaintiff or make them believe that the low compensation they’re receiving is fair enough.
They Push You to Settle Fast
Insurance adjusters have vast experience dealing with such claims. They know exactly how and when to push a victim to the limits where they will settle for a low offer. They might tell you that you don’t have that much time to consult a lawyer, or they are offering you the best they can. But that’s their trap.
Payment Delay
When a person has been involved in an accident, especially one that needs hospitalization, they suffer from physical, emotional, and financial obstacles. Insurance adjusters capitalize on this situation by delaying the payment to the victim. This often leads to frustration, especially if the victim is hospitalized. The frustration paves the way for the plaintiff to accept an offer that they wouldn’t have accepted under normal circumstances.
Minimizing the Importance of a Lawyer
Insurance adjusters often omit or downplay the importance of seeking legal help. They sweet-talk the plaintiff into signing a lower offer, citing reasons such as “you don’t need a lawyer” or “having an attorney won’t increase your settlement.” Not consulting a lawyer reduces your chances of understanding how much compensation you are liable to receive and your rights.
Though there are many more tricks that insurance adjusters use to lowball offers, these six are the most common. Keeping these tips handy and seeking legal assistance immediately will help you fight cunning insurance adjusters in an hour of need.
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