Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Deny or Devalue Car Accident Claims

Drivers pay insurance companies premiums for years in order to get protection in the event of a car accident. Unfortunately, when it comes time to pay damages to crash victims, insurers often don’t want to live up to their part of the bargain.

Whether you’re making a claim with your own insurer or the insurer of a driver who hurt you, insurance companies often use underhanded and unfair tactics to try to deny or devalue car accident claims. This can hurt victims who need full and fair compensation to rebuild their lives. 

Hadfield Stieben & Doutt, LLC can help you fight these tactics to get the money you deserve. Our legal team includes former insurance defense lawyers, so we bring insider knowledge of insurance company tricks to every case we handle. 

To find out more, give us a call or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation with a Fort Collins car accident lawyer. You can also read on to learn about the tricks insurers use to pay less than you deserve. 

Offering Lowball Settlements

Many insurers offer you low settlements to try to reset your expectations of what your case is worth or trick you into accepting less money than you deserve. 

Hadfield Stieben & Doutt,  LLC can help ensure this doesn’t happen by sending a demand letter to start negotiations off on your terms. We also know what your case is worth and will advise you on whether a settlement is fair. 

Trying to Pressure You into Settling Quickly

Insurance companies may also put pressure on you to accept a settlement right away. You may not even know the full extent of your injuries and damages if you agree to this. A Colorado personal injury lawyer can help you ensure you act within the statute of limitations, but that you know the full extent of your losses first so you don’t end up with uncompensated injuries.

Denying Legitimate Claims

In some Fort Collins premises liability cases, insurers outright deny legitimate claims with the hope you’ll give up. This also delays the resolution of your claim, which can put more financial pressure on you. 

Insurers hope that you’ll become financially desperate and more willing to accept a low settlement offer just to get some of the money you need to cover your bills. 

Hadfield Stieben & Doutt,  LLC responds swiftly to unfair denials and keeps your case moving forward without compromising on compensation. 

Trying to Trip You Up in Recorded Statements

If an insurance company asks you to make a recorded statement, you should avoid doing so. Insurers use these recorded statements to try to poke holes in your claim. 

If you made any misstatements in the shock and confusion of the accident or if you underestimated the severity of your injuries because adrenaline masked symptoms, they’ll use that against you. 

Shifting Blame

Colorado uses a modified comparative fault system, so you can recover damages only if you are less than 50% to blame for your accident. An insurer may try to argue that some or all of the blame for the crash falls on your shoulders, with the goal of paying you less than you deserve or nothing at all. 

That’s why Hadfield Stieben & Doutt,  LLC conducts a thorough investigation as soon as possible to gather evidence to prove who was to blame.

Get Help from a Colorado Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Don’t let insurance companies get away with these tactics. Call Hadfield Stieben & Doutt,  LLC to schedule a free consultation with a Colorado personal injury lawyer who can fight for you.