Insurance companies are trained to take every step possible to delay the settlement and pay out of even the most reasonable settlements to personal injury victims. An experienced Stockton personal injury attorney will recognize the common delay tactics used by insurance adjusters and will do everything possible to avoid them.
Three of the most common delay tactics used by insurance adjusters to stonewall personal injury claimants are discussed below.
Unfair Leveraging
In cases involving a multi-part claim, insurance adjusters may delay the settlement and payment process by refusing to settle or pay one part of the claim until the claimant has agreed to settle the entire claim. This forces the claimant to prematurely settle one part of their claim in order to settle another part that they may need to deal with in a much quicker manner due to financial reasons.
This unfair leveraging may be avoided if you hire the right attorney to advocate on your behalf.
Financial Vulnerability of the Claimant
Claimants are at a greater disadvantage than insurance companies because in most situations financial reasons will force them to settle their claim more quickly. Adjusters are aware of the this financial upper hand they have and often try to use the claimant’s financial vulnerability as a means to settle claims for significantly less than they are worth. A smart Stockton personal injury lawyer will take the necessary steps to avoid a premature settlement and get you the full compensation that you deserve for the injuries you have suffered.
Using Excess Coverage to Pay Medical Bills
Another delay tactic commonly used by insurance adjusters is to force accident victims to use their own health insurance to pay medical bills and take credit for that coverage before allowing the claimant’s bills to be paid by the insurance company. This may be an issue if accident victims do not have full insurance coverage or cannot get appointments with specialty doctors to treat their injuries.
When you are legally represented, your attorney can set you up with lien doctors to ensure you get the best and most appropriate medical treatment for your injuries. The insurance company should not and cannot dictate how and where you get the treatment for the injuries caused by their negligent client.
Contact an Experienced Stockton Accident Attorney
If you or a loved has been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another party, you should discuss your legal options with an attorney as you may be entitled to compensation.
The Stockton accident attorneys at the Srai Law Offices advocate for their clients’ full financial recovery through hard work and an aggressive approach. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our attorneys, please call (209) 323-5558.