How Insurance Companies Undervalue Houston Car Accident Claims
Insurance companies undervalue Houston car accident claims by using tactics like offering quick settlements before you learn the extent of your injuries and damages, disputing the severity of your injuries, delaying the claims process, and blaming you for the accident. Understanding these tactics will help you better prepare for the claims process and protect your right to full compensation.
Experienced Houston car accident attorney Denise Bradshaw can help you overcome these tactics and recover maximum compensation for your injuries. Call 775-738-7444 to set up a free consultation.
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Tactics Used to Undervalue Houston Car Accident Claims
Houston recorded 66,236 car accidents in 2024. Insurance companies use a combination of tactics to weaken car accident claims and pressure crash victims into accepting lower compensation than what they’re entitled to receive. The most common tactics include:
Quick Settlement Offers
Insurance companies often offer settlements just days after an accident. At this point, the crash victim is vulnerable, overwhelmed, and hasn’t yet finished treatment, realized the full extent of damages suffered, or spoken to a car accident attorney. These early settlements fail to adequately account for long-term medical care, future expenses, and non-economic damages.
Downplaying Your Injuries
Insurance companies can try to reduce your claim’s value by underplaying the seriousness of your injuries, questioning the cost or necessity of your treatment, or claiming your injuries were preexisting or unrelated to the crash.
Shifting Blame to You
Texas at-fault laws handle fault and compensation using a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning your compensation can be reduced if you’re found to be partially responsible for the accident. As a result, insurance companies usually look for room to shift all or some of the blame to you, even when their driver is clearly at fault.
Dragging Out the Claims Process
Insurance companies can delay the claims process intentionally, for example, by requesting unnecessary documentation, making repeated requests, or ignoring your inquiries. They hope to get you frustrated and desperate enough to accept whatever low settlement they’ll finally offer.
Asking for a Recorded Statement
Although you don’t need to provide a recorded statement, the insurance company may ask you to do so, claiming it will help with investigations or speed up the claims process. Insurance adjusters ask questions in a way that they can later twist your statements and use them against you to reduce your payout.
Combing Through Social Media Accounts
Insurance adjusters often monitor crash victims’ social media accounts to look for posts that contradict their injury claims. The adjusters can use your posts as a basis for arguing that you’re exaggerating your injuries or were partially to blame for the accident.
How to Protect Yourself
There are several steps you can take to counter these tactics, including:
- Politely refuse to give a recorded statement or delay it until you talk to a lawyer
- If you must speak to an insurance adjuster, be brief and stick to the facts that you know
- Don’t say anything that sounds like an admission of fault after the accident, including apologizing
- Seek medical attention promptly and keep detailed records of anything related to your injury, recovery, and communication with the insurance company
- Avoid posting on social media as much as possible before your claim is completely resolved, as your posts could be used to devalue your claim
- Don’t accept a settlement or sign anything from the insurer without consulting with a qualified Houston car accident lawyer
Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
An experienced car accident attorney will have encountered the tactics insurance companies use to undervalue Houston car accident claims. Hiring such an attorney offers several advantages.
Enhancing the Credibility of Your Claim
Insurers take claims more seriously when victims are represented by a car accident attorney. Insurance companies know that attorneys are familiar with their tactics and are more willing to negotiate and offer higher settlements when an accident victim is backed by an attorney.
Managing Communication With Insurance Companies
A Houston car accident lawyer will communicate with insurance companies on your behalf. That prevents you from making mistakes that could jeopardize your claim. Your lawyer will guide you on what not to say after a car accident if an insurance adjuster requests to speak to you.
Calculating the Full Value of Your Claim
A lawyer will evaluate your case to determine the full extent of your damages and the impact of your injuries on your life. He or she will calculate your full damages, which may include the diminished value of your vehicle, future lost earnings, long-term care, and the emotional costs you incurred due to the accident, increasing your chances of recovering full compensation.
Negotiating a Higher Settlement Value With Insurance Adjusters
Car accident lawyers use their legal knowledge and negotiation skills to push for higher settlement amounts on behalf of their clients. Your lawyer will file a lawsuit in court if the insurer fails to offer a fair settlement. A lawyer’s willingness to take your case to court often pressures insurance companies to resume negotiations.
You don’t have to face insurance companies alone. Denise Bradshaw has been facing off against insurance companies and helping car accident victims secure their rightful compensation for more than 17 years. Contact us today for a free consultation about your case in Houston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Insurance Companies Undervalue Houston Car Accident Claims?
Insurance companies, like other private businesses, aim to minimize expenses and maximize profits, even if that comes at the expense of victims. Giving out large settlements for the mistakes made by the people who purchased their policies affects their profits. Consequently, they often use several tactics to try to devalue accident claims as much as possible.
Should You Accept the Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer?
The first settlement offer is often much lower than the true value of your claim. Once you accept an insurance company’s settlement offer, you can’t request additional damages later. Before signing a settlement agreement and release, you should understand the full extent of your injuries, accident-related costs, and long-term needs. A car accident lawyer can help you assess whether the offer you’ve received is fair.
Can You Negotiate With Insurance Companies on Your Own?
You can choose to handle your car accident claim on your own. However, if you lack legal experience, you’re unlikely to handle negotiations effectively. A mistake can lead to a denied insurance claim or reduced compensation. Insurance companies have experienced adjusters and legal and financial experts who’ve handled numerous claims. With such an imbalance, they can easily take advantage of unrepresented claimants who try to face off against them. An experienced car accident lawyer puts you on an even playing field.
