While insurance companies have a legal duty to treat you fairly, they often fail to uphold this obligation. Some insurers use tactics to give themselves the upper hand and reduce how much they pay in claims. When insurers do not treat you fairly and in good faith, they may be breaking the law. In this case, you may not only have the right to compensation for your original claim, but you may also have a legal claim against the insurer for acting in bad faith. To learn more how insurance companies work against you after an accident, read below.
If you are concerned with how an insurer is treating you, you should immediately contact an Ohio insurance bad faith attorney. At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we have decades of experience dealing with insurers and can determine if you are being treated in bad faith. If we find the insurer is treating you unlawfully, we can discuss your options for recovering compensation for your original claim as well as from the insurer for their illegal activity.
Call us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW to schedule a free case consultation.
Insurers May Work Against You After an Accident
After you file a third-party claim against another party’s insurance policy, the insurer may try to:
- Delay investigating your claim. In many accident cases, gathering and reviewing evidence quickly is important. The longer an insurance adjuster waits to investigate your claim, the greater likelihood that evidence is lost or diminished. This could significantly impact the facts that support your claim for compensation.
- Look for ways you may have been at fault. The at-fault party’s insurer wants to deny liability, so they will look for ways you could have been responsible for the accident. While you may not be fully at fault, if they find evidence that you contributed to the accident in some way, then the insurer has a reason to decrease your compensation.
- Try to use your own words against you. You need to be prepared before you speak to anyone on the other side of your claim, particularly the insurance adjuster. Anything you say in writing or over the phone is on record and can be used against you during your claim. Therefore, you need to practice making your statement regarding the accident and answering questions with your lawyer to ensure you do not accidentally say something that could be used against you.
- Investigate your medical records. Many insurers will ask you to sign a release form to allow them to review your entire medical history. This is unnecessary and can harm your claim. The insurer will look through your history to see if there is any reason to argue you were suffering from an injury before the accident. The insurer should only need medical records relevant to the accident and the injuries it caused, not your entire medical history.
- Give you a lowball offer. Most insurers will offer you a very low amount at first hoping you will settle and therefore, do minimal damage to their bottom line. However, any offer by an insurer should be thoroughly reviewed since you may need to negotiate for a higher amount.
- Refuse to negotiate. A common tactic insurers will take during the claims process will be to refuse to negotiate a settlement. They may make an offer, say it is final, and refuse to entertain counteroffers.
An Ohio Bad Faith Insurance Lawyer Can Help
If you were hurt in a car accident, you should call a lawyer right away. Our attorneys at Kisling, Nestico & Redick have decades of experience in representing accidents victims. We are not afraid to go head-to-head with insurers, and if we notice any signs of bad faith conduct, we will address it immediately. If their bad faith actions cost you the ability to obtain an appropriate settlement, we can discuss the possibility of bringing an action against the insurer itself.
To learn more, contact us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW or use our online form to schedule a free consultation.
