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If you’ve been involved in a car accident and dealt with insurance in Connecticut that wasn’t your fault, you are entitled to seek compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. However, many accident victims aren’t fully aware of the tactics that insurance companies use to try to deny or devalue their claims. It’s important to understand these strategies to ensure you’re not taken advantage of. At Etemi Law, we are committed to helping clients navigate the insurance claim process and fight for the compensation they deserve. Below, we outline 10 common tactics insurance companies use and how you can protect yourself.

1. Contacting You Immediately After the Accident

One of the first tactics an insurance company may use is to contact you shortly after the accident, sometimes even the same day. They often appear friendly and concerned, but this is a strategy designed to take advantage of your vulnerable state. You may be feeling emotional, disoriented, or unsure of the full extent of your injuries at this point. The insurance company’s goal is to get you to make a statement or settle your claim before you’ve had the opportunity to consult with a lawyer or assess your medical needs.

It’s crucial that you refrain from speaking with the at-fault driver’s insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Any statement you make could be used against you later in the process.

2. Delaying the Claims Process

After receiving your claim, insurance companies may intentionally drag their feet when processing it. This delay tactic is designed to frustrate you, hoping that you’ll either accept a low settlement or abandon your claim altogether. The insurance company may repeatedly request additional information or slow down the investigation process to wear you down.

Don’t be discouraged by these delays. A knowledgeable attorney can help ensure that your claim is processed in a timely manner and hold the insurance company accountable for unnecessary delays.

3. Offering a Lowball Settlement

In the days following an accident, you may feel the pressure of mounting medical bills, repair costs, and lost wages. The insurance company knows this and may offer a quick settlement—often far below what you are entitled to. These lowball offers are designed to get you to settle quickly, before you’ve fully assessed the long-term costs of your injuries.

While it might seem tempting to accept an immediate offer, doing so without a thorough evaluation of your injuries and damages could leave you without enough compensation to cover your future medical expenses, lost wages, or other long-term costs.

4. Denying or Minimizing Liability

Insurance companies may attempt to deny responsibility for the accident, or claim that you were partially at fault. By doing this, they hope to reduce the amount of compensation they owe you or shift blame onto you. In Connecticut, as in many states, liability laws allow for comparative negligence, which means that if you were partially at fault, your compensation could be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.

However, an insurance company may exaggerate your level of fault to minimize their payout. Working with an experienced car accident lawyer can help ensure that liability is properly assessed and that you receive the full compensation you deserve.

5. Claiming Your Injuries Aren’t Related to the Accident

Insurance companies may challenge whether your injuries are directly related to the car accident, especially if you didn’t seek immediate medical attention. If you wait days or weeks to see a doctor, they may argue that your injuries could be from another cause.

To avoid this, seek medical attention right away, even if you feel fine at first. Many injuries, such as whiplash, may not become apparent until hours or even days after the accident. Immediate documentation of your injuries is crucial to proving they were caused by the crash.

6. Requesting a Recorded Statement

Insurance adjusters often ask accident victims to provide a recorded statement. This might sound harmless, but it’s important to be cautious. At this stage, you may not have all the details of your injuries or the full extent of your damages. Your statement could inadvertently harm your case if you provide incorrect or incomplete information.

Before agreeing to any recorded statement, consult with an attorney who can guide you on how to handle such requests and protect your best interests.

7. Sending You to a Biased Doctor

In some cases, insurance companies may require you to see a doctor they choose for an evaluation. Unfortunately, these doctors may be biased toward the insurance company’s interests, potentially downplaying the severity of your injuries.

To ensure a fair evaluation of your injuries, work with a lawyer who can recommend independent medical professionals who will provide an unbiased assessment of your condition.

8. Pressuring You to Sign a Release

Once the insurance company offers a settlement, they may ask you to sign a release form. This document waives your right to pursue further claims related to the accident. Insurance companies may try to get you to sign this release before you fully understand the extent of your injuries or your future medical needs.

Before signing any documents, speak with a lawyer to ensure that the settlement adequately covers all of your damages and that you are not waiving your right to future compensation.

9. Downplaying Available Damages

Insurance companies may try to convince you that certain types of compensation, such as pain and suffering or lost wages, are not available or are difficult to claim. This tactic is designed to push you toward a lower settlement.

Your lawyer will help you understand all the damages you are entitled to, including economic and non-economic damages, and ensure that your claim accounts for the full scope of your losses.

10. Discouraging You from Hiring an Attorney

One of the most common tactics insurance companies use is to downplay the value of hiring an attorney. They may tell you that hiring a lawyer isn’t worth the expense or that you won’t get a higher settlement than what they’ve already offered. In reality, having a skilled attorney on your side significantly increases your chances of securing a fair settlement.

Insurance companies know that lawyers level the playing field, and they don’t want you to have expert representation. If you’ve been in an accident, don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer who can ensure your rights are protected.

Insurance Companies Are Not on Your Side

Remember, insurance companies are businesses, and their goal is to pay out as little as possible. They may appear friendly and cooperative, but their ultimate objective is to minimize their financial liability. Don’t let them take advantage of you.

At Etemi Law, we understand the tactics that insurance companies use, and we are here to protect your interests. Our experienced attorneys will handle the complexities of your case, from negotiating with insurers to ensuring that you receive the maximum compensation possible.

Get the Legal Support You Deserve

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Connecticut, don’t let the insurance company pressure you into settling for less than you deserve. Contact Etemi Law at 203-318-4746 for a free consultation today. Our team is dedicated to fighting for your rights and securing the compensation you are entitled to. We don’t charge any fees unless we win your case, so there’s no risk to you.

Let us handle the insurance companies while you focus on recovering.