If you’ve been injured in an accident, you might expect the insurance company to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain. But insurance adjusters are trained to protect the company’s bottom line, not your future. Knowing how they work is the first step to protecting your rights.
At Merricks Law Group, we understand these tactics and know how to counter them to help you get the full compensation you deserve.
How Insurance Adjusters Evaluate Your Claim
From the moment you report an accident, an insurance adjuster starts building a file to minimize the payout. They focus on three main areas:
1. Liability – Who Is at Fault?
Adjusters review police reports, witness statements, and other evidence to assign fault.
Florida’s comparative negligence laws can reduce your settlement if you’re partly at fault. Adjusters often look for ways to shift blame onto you.
2. Damages – What Are Your Injuries Worth?
Adjusters carefully examine your injuries and costs:
- Medical Treatment: Gaps in care or pre-existing conditions may lower their estimate. Hospital or physician care is valued higher than chiropractic visits alone.
- Documentation: Every bill, prescription, and doctor’s note is reviewed. Missing records can weaken your claim.
- Impact on Your Life: They evaluate how the injury affects daily activities and work. Well-documented lost wages and lifestyle changes strengthen your case.
3. Collectability – Can They Pay?
Adjusters check the at-fault party’s insurance limits and whether the payout is realistically recoverable.
Common Tactics Used by Insurance Adjusters
Knowing these strategies can help you avoid mistakes:
- The Quick, Low Offer: Early settlement offers often come before your injuries and expenses are fully known. Accepting too soon can prevent additional compensation.
- Recorded Statements: Adjusters may ask questions in a friendly way to gather quotes they can later use against you.
- Delaying the Process: Waiting can pressure you to accept less.
- Minimizing Your Injury: Adjusters may claim soft-tissue injuries aren’t serious or that your pain isn’t related to the accident.
How an Attorney Levels the Playing Field
A skilled personal injury attorney changes the dynamics of your claim:
- Thorough Investigation: We gather evidence, interview witnesses, and work with experts to establish liability.
- Building a Damages Case: We organize medical records, bills, and expert opinions to show how your injuries affected your life.
- Managing Communication: Your attorney handles all contact with the insurance company to protect you from saying something that could harm your claim.
- Accurate Valuation: We calculate the full long-term value of your claim, including future medical care, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
- Preparing for Trial: Insurers take claims more seriously when they know a lawyer is ready to go to court. This often leads to better settlement offers.
How Merricks Law Group Can Help
We understand the stress an injury puts on you and your family. Our approach is to provide clear guidance while aggressively protecting your interests. We handle the complexities of insurance negotiation so you can focus on healing and recovery.
If you are considering a personal injury settlement in Florida, contact us for a confidential consultation to learn more about your rights and options.