Should I Talk With The Insurance Company?
Insurance companies want us to believe that they are our friends and neighbors because that instills confidence and trust in the company. When we have confidence and trust in an insurance company, we are more likely to give that company our business and this is what an insurance company truly wants from us — our business. Our “business” makes the insurance industry a billion-dollar industry.
For the most part, insurance companies benefit us by providing insurance protection for our homes, vehicles, property, lives and health. However, they do so at a price and it is that price (i.e. the premiums that we pay) that translates into big bucks for the insurance industry.
When Does An Insurance Company Become An Adversary?
Insurance companies are businesses; therefore, they are in business to make a profit. They must protect their bottom line for their shareholders and investors. One way they do this is through the premiums we pay them; however, another way they can increase their bottom line is to decrease the amount they pay in claims.
When you file a claim against an insurance policy, you create an adversarial position with the insurance company because the more money the company must pay to settle your claim, the less money it has to keep as profits. If the insurance company can find ways to decrease the amount of money it pays to you, it can retain that money as part of its profit margin.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Talking With The Insurance Company?
Insurance adjusters are trained to reach out to accident victims before the victims or their families have the opportunity to consult with a Elizabethtown personal injury attorney. They do this because a highly trained Kentucky personal injury attorney would advise the victim and their family against speaking with the insurance company, its adjusters, agents or attorneys.
Adjusters ask for a recorded statement; however, this is an attempt to illicit recorded responses from the victim to carefully thought-out questions. These questions are asked in a way to illicit responses that could be misinterpret or misconstrued later in the case to damage the victim’s claim. You should never agree to a recorded statement or discuss your claim until you have met with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Another thing that insurance adjusters will request is a medical release. This sounds innocent, as the adjuster just needs your permission to obtain your medical records from the accident so he can verify your injuries. In reality, he is having you sign a blanket medical release so that the company has access to your entire medical history.
They like to use this as a way to find previous injuries that the company can use to claim that your current injuries were not incurred in the accident or that the current injury’s severity was really due to your previous injury. You should never sign any releases without your peronsla injury attorney reviewing them first.
Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Kentucky Families Since 1982
The personal injury lawyers at Musselwhite, Meinhart & Staples, PSC have been helping individuals just like you since 1982. We understand the stress, frustration and anxiety caused by injuries sustained due to the negligent, reckless or carless acts of another and we offer hope to those struggling to recover physically, emotionally and financially from those injuries.
Call our office as 270-351-6032 or to schedule a free consultation with one of our Elizabethtown personal injury attorneys. If you prefer, you can send a secure message through our online contact form and one of our helpful staff members will contact you to answer your questions about personal injury claims. We have offices in Radcliff and Elizabethtown and Louisville for your convenience.