Can I Trust the Other Driver’s Insurance Company After a Florida Car Accident?
If you have been involved in a Florida car accident because of another driver’s negligence and have sustained severe injuries, you have the right to file a personal injury claim and seek compensation. Shortly after filing your claim, you might receive a call from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The insurance adjuster may sound friendly and ready to help with your claim. But can you really trust the other driver’s insurance company? The simple answer is NO. The other driver’s insurance company’s primary goal is to protect its profits and not your best interests.
Below, we discuss why you cannot trust the other driver’s insurance company and how to protect your rights.
Why Can’t You Trust the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company?
Before you think about trusting the insurance adjuster from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, it is crucial that you understand what their role really is. The insurance adjuster may seem concerned and friendly, but they are an employee of the other driver’s insurance company. As such, their job is to protect the company’s best interests and not yours. The adjuster is not there to ensure you are fairly compensated. In fact, these professionals are trained to minimize or deny claims whenever possible. While an adjuster might seem concerned or friendly, they are looking for information they can use against you later.
Common Tactics Insurance Adjusters Use
When an insurance adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company calls you, they might use several tactics to try to reduce the value of your claim or deny it altogether. It is crucial that you know about these tactics. Here are some of the most common tactics insurance adjusters use;
1. Requesting a Recorded Statement
One common tactic is asking you to give a recorded statement. The adjuster might say that they want to have your side of the story on record. Often, this is a lie. The truth is that adjusters ask to record your statement, hoping you’ll say something they can twist and use against you. For example, even a polite remark like “I feel okay” might be twisted to make it look like you weren’t seriously injured.
2. Offering Fast Settlements
The insurance adjuster will almost certainly make you a quick offer that might seem attractive. However, the initial offer is almost always unfair. You may not know the full extent of your damages at the early stages of your claim and may accept a low amount.
3. Downplaying Your Injuries
The insurance adjuster might argue on the phone that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. They might question the necessity of your treatment. The adjuster might even argue that your injuries are pre-existing.
How To Protect Your Rights
Here are the steps to follow to protect your rights after a car accident;
- Don’t give a recorded statement without speaking to an attorney
- Don’t accept a settlement offer before speaking to an attorney
- Document everything, including medical bills, missed work, and accident-related expenses
- Consult a skilled Florida personal injury attorney
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you’ve been in a car accident, our Orlando personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm can help you handle the at-fault driver’s insurance company and recover fair compensation. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Ocala, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, and Melbourne areas.