Under Florida law, motorists must file an insurance claim with their own insurer following a car crash, regardless of fault. For this reason, many car accident victims assume that their insurer is willing to help them and is looking out for their best interests.
However, the opposite is true. Just because it is your insurance company does not mean that they are an advocate for your best interests. In reality, insurance companies care about their own profits. And, as you might have guessed, an insurance company makes profits by denying claims and settling claims for as little as possible.
Today, we will outline the four things you need to keep in mind when dealing with your insurance adjuster following a car crash in Florida. If you were involved in an auto accident in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Tampa, or Orlando, do not hesitate to discuss your legal rights with a skilled attorney.
Insurance adjusters aren’t on your side
As mentioned earlier, insurance companies only care about making money. For this reason, do not expect your insurance adjuster to handle your claim fairly.
Insurers employ different types of strategies to undervalue and deny claims in order to pay victims minimum amounts. Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not you. A car accident lawyer on your side, meanwhile, works for you and is interested in helping you obtain the maximum compensation.
Do research before purchasing any services from your insurer
When your insurance company offers any services, do your research before agreeing to purchase those services from the insurer. For example, your insurer may recommend specific auto repair shops to get your vehicle repaired following a car crash. Also, your insurance company may recommend you to go to a doctor of their choice in order to speed up the claims process.
However, the recommended repair shop or doctor may be working with the insurer to minimize personal injury claims.
Do not sign anything before consulting with a lawyer
Insurance companies increase their own profits by denying and devaluing valid claims. Shortly after filing an insurance claim, your insurer may make an initial settlement offer in the hopes that you will accept it.
What you need to understand is that the initial settlement offer is never a fair one. Insurance companies want victims to accept settlement offers before they realize that their injury is worth much more than the offered amount.
For this reason, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer before signing anything or accepting the insurer’s offers.
You need to contact a personal injury lawyer
Now that we’ve established that the insurance adjuster is not on your side, you need to have someone who will represent your best interests and negotiate a fair settlement offer. This someone is your personal injury lawyer.
You should contact an experienced Lakeland car accident attorney to help you settle your claim for a fair amount. Speak with our knowledgeable personal injury attorney at The Turnbull Firm to help you deal with the insurance adjuster and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Call at 863-324-3500.