Birmingham, the third largest city in Alabama, has a population of over 200,000 and thousands of visitors every year. Unfortunately, Birmingham has a high rate of car accidents.
If you are injured in a car accident in Birmingham, you should know that you can obtain compensation for the losses you incurred. However, it is not easy to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance adjuster. They will use various tactics to reduce or reject your settlement. Consulting with car accident attorneys in Birmingham can make your claim process easier.
In this article, we are going to share the six main insurance adjuster traps that you should avoid after a car crash in Birmingham.
6 Common Traps Insurance Adjusters Use:
- Ask you to give a recorded statement
- Pressure you to accept quick settlements
- Stalling and avoidance
- Force you to sign a medical release form
- Monitor your social media
- Claiming you don’t need legal assistance
Ask You to Give a Recorded Statement
After a car crash, the insurance adjuster will ask you to give a recorded statement. They will claim that this is important to process your car accident claim or that it will help you get a reasonable settlement. Actually, it is a trap. You should not say anything in a recorded statement. Because it will be used against you later.
The insurance adjuster will try to find inconsistencies, twist your words, or use your statement to blame you for the car accident or decrease your damages. Without consulting an attorney first, never give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster.
Pressure You to Accept Quick Settlements
The insurance adjuster will pressure you to agree to a fast settlement offer. They will tell you that this is the best offer you will get or that you need to accept it before a deadline. They will try to make you feel guilty. Anyhow, you should never accept a settlement offer without knowing the full extent of your injuries and damages and without having an attorney review it.
Keep in mind that a quick settlement offer is generally a lowball offer that does not reflect the actual value of your claim. If you accept it, you will lose your legal right to pursue further compensation in the future.
Stalling and Avoidance
Few insurance adjusters will use the tactic of stalling and avoidance. They will delay processing your car accident claim by simply ignoring your calls or emails or making excuses for not paying you. They will hope that you will get desperate or frustrated and either give up on your car accident claim or accept a lowball offer.
Force You to Sign a Medical Release Form
The insurance adjuster will request that you sign a medical release form. They will say that it is important to check your injuries and pay your medical bills. You should avoid this trap. A medical release form gives the insurance adjuster access to your whole medical history, not just the records related to the car crash.
They will use this information to argue that your injuries existed before the accident. So, you should never sign any medical release form without consulting an attorney first.
Monitor Your Social media
The insurance adjusters will also use social media to monitor your activities and collect information about you after a car accident. They will look at your photos, videos, comments, or check-ins to find evidence that contradicts your car accident claim. You should never fall into this trap.
So, you should limit your social media use after a car accident and avoid posting anything related to the accident, your injuries, your claim, or your personal life.
Claiming You Don’t Require Legal Assistance
They will claim that legal assistance is not needed, which is the most dangerous trap used by insurance adjusters. They will tell you that hiring an attorney will only cost you money. They will also try to discourage you from talking to an attorney. This is also a trap.
Keep in mind that the insurance adjuster is not your friend, and they are not looking out for your best interests. They are well-trained to reduce your car accident claim and maximize their profits.
So, you should always seek legal assistance from an experienced car accident lawyer who will protect your legal rights and get you fair compensation.
Wrapping Up
When you are involved in a car accident, it is important to be aware of all six insurance adjuster traps. This can help you get fair compensation from the negligent party.