One of the most frustrating experiences that you can endure when you are injured is dealing with an insurance company.
When you are injured, you want the compensation you are entitled to. This means that you want your medical bills handled, and other costs related to an accident or injury covered. After all, the whole point of insurance is that it covers the costs that would, normally, be too much for you to handle on your own.
Unfortunately, whether you are dealing with your own insurance company or the insurance company covering the person at fault in an accident, the reality is that the goal insurers have is a profitable businesses. They are trying to make a profit, and they might even answer to shareholders.
This means that when it comes time to pay out, it is in the best interest of an insurer to pay as little as possible — or to find a way to deny your claim altogether.
When talking to an insurance company, this means you need to be careful. You don’t want to say anything that could provide grounds for a lower payout (or worse — no payout). It also means that you need to be able to cut through the jargon get to the heart of the matter. Trying to do this on your own can be difficult and frustrating.
That’s why one of the best things you can say to an insurer is, “My lawyer will contact you.”
Have a Lawyer Represent You
The best way to speak to an insurance company is to give a straight recital of the facts if necessary, and then turn over your representation to your personal injury attorney. A lawyer is experienced in dealing with insurers, and understands all of the terms that you might not get.
If you do need to talk to the insurer on your own (as when you’re providing a statement), it can help to review the essentials with your attorney. That way, you know what to say, and how to say it. Even better is to have your attorney present so that you know when it’s time to let him or her handle the insurance company representative.
“..one of the best things you can say to an insurer is, “My lawyer will contact you.”
No matter how intelligent you are, the reality is that insurers assume that your inexperience with the system means that they can get away with more. When insurance company representatives are dealing with lawyers, they know that they can’t offer a brush-off, and they know that they are dealing with a specialist.
Insurance companies might also take advantage of your condition, and your desire to settle things quickly to goad you into accepting wasn’t isn’t fair. The great thing about having an attorney help you out is that it puts you at arm’s length from the frustrations. You can concentrate on getting well, and you don’t have to worry about the insurance company on top of it. Let your lawyer handle as much of the interaction as possible, and you don’t have to worry about becoming frustrated enough to cave in.
What you say to an insurance company matters, as does the way you say it. If you want to make sure that you get what you deserve, it helps to have a lawyer on your side. You know that your attorney isn’t beholden to shareholders, and that he or she doesn’t have several interests to put ahead of yours. Choose a good lawyer, and the only thing you have to say to the insurance company is, “Please direct your questions to my lawyer.”
