Many drivers trust in good faith and don’t expect to be required to sue the auto insurance company for reimbursement of expenses arising from an automobile accident. Most people want to get their car repaired and have their medical bills paid.
Michigan Auto Law has to deal with numerous car insurance companies every day. They take advantage of customers by cutting their benefits without any notice. People are also “under investigation” by insurance companies, which can be used as an excuse to stop paying all medical bills and wage losses. Their insurance adjusters are threatening, intimidating, and sometimes lying to people.
Here are some common ways that auto insurance companies use to reduce or eliminate their customers’ payouts. These suggestions will help you to protect yourself and avoid problems with your auto insurer.
1. There are many limitations and restrictions in the fine print of your policy.
It is difficult to understand and read the fine print in auto insurance policies. Many people are unaware of the important filing requirements in their auto insurance policies, which can lead to them losing out on valuable benefits. Auto accident lawyers have seen this happen far too often. Many auto policies require that you notify your insurer within 30 days of a hit-and-run accident. Many contracts contain separate conditions for coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists. This requires prompt notice. In addition, insurance carriers have the right to modify their policy filing requirements at any moment. If victims of car accidents fail to respond to notification requirements promptly, they may lose their coverage.
How to protect yourself
After an accident, immediately notify your insurance company. You should have your entire auto insurance policy. This includes any notifications of coverage changes from one year to the next. You may also receive pamphlets and notes with your renewal statement, which can reflect any policy changes. Policies usually include exclusions and conditions as well as insuring agreements, declarations, conditions, and insuring agreements.
You should also check your insurance policies to see if there are any benefits that may be covered by your health or disability insurance. Also, review any additional coverage such as uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. A solid knowledge of insurance policies is important to help ensure that you get the right amount of medical attention for your car accident injuries.
You can contact an attorney who specializes in auto accident law if you have any questions or are unsure about your auto insurance policy.
2. Not all insurance agents recommend the best coverage.
Following a car accident, there can be numerous issues and challenges navigating health insurance plans, managed care plans, retirement plans such as ERISA, and coordinated/uncoordinated policies. Insurance agents might not mention important coverage options or applicable discounts because of payout losses, lower premiums, or reduced commissions.
People often choose to have more insurance coverage in order to avoid being personally responsible for any car accidents. Some people will only pay the minimum amount of insurance to renew their license plate every year and then let their auto insurance lapse. Without an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy, a driver or family members severely injured by an uninsured motorist will have no source of legal recovery for their injuries other than filing a lawsuit against the uninsured driver for his or her personal assets. The majority of people don’t have enough personal net worth to pay for someone who has been seriously injured.
How to protect yourself
Contact an experienced attorney if you have been injured in an accident. They can provide advice on which insurance to use and who will pay for any medical costs incurred following a crash.
Uncoordinated coverage, or primary coverage, is safer if you have ERISA insurance. In the event of an accident, an insured person may not be able to recover any pain or suffering from their ERISA and/or coordinated insurance.
Check your insurance policy for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. Contact your insurance company to request this coverage – it is inexpensive and highly recommended to protect yourself and your family.
Your auto insurance premiums can be lowered by raising your deductible to $500 or more. Drop collision and/or complete coverage for older vehicles. You may save money if the car’s worth is less than 10x your premium. If you are able to reduce the mileage that you drive annually, your insurance company can provide low mileage discounts.
3. Accident Settlement Offers Are Always Too Low
Imagine you have suffered severe injuries in a car crash and you now need to recuperate at home. An insurance agent comes knocking at your door, offering $100,000 to cover your accident. Due to the emotional and psychological trauma that follows a truck or car accident, large sums of money can sound appealing, so victims often accept the first settlement offer. However, valuing an auto accident case involves more than a calculation of injury type and future costs not covered under no-fault insurance. Also consider the policy limit of the wrongdoer. Insurers offer to settle as a backdoor way to reduce litigation costs, but it does not affect the accident victim’s right for full recovery.
How to protect yourself
Asking for help from an auto accident lawyer is a good idea. Many lawyers are available to explain the law and what your rights are. They can also help you make sure that your insurance company pays all of their obligations.
4. Releases and recorded statements are made early to help victims of accidents.
Many victims rush to sign adjusters’ paperwork without having it reviewed by an auto accident lawyer. They think these are only basic verifications of what happened. They may lose the right to sue negligent drivers for injuries sustained in an accident. Claims adjusters will often attempt to record statements as soon as possible to minimize victim’s pain and injuries so that they can later be used in court. Unrelated language can cause problems with other claims, even vehicle damage releases.
How to protect yourself
Never give any statements to an adjuster for accident claims. Also, never sign a release and never allow them to inspect the vehicle damage. Just tell the adjuster you want to review the paperwork with an attorney. They will then get back to you with your response. An auto accident attorney can help you protect your rights, regardless of how desperate or debilitating it may seem after suffering financial hardships such as medical bills, lost earnings, and disabling pain. Remember that claims adjusters work for insurance companies and have the best interests of the company and not the victim.
5. The standard practice is to delay or deny claim payouts
People who have suffered injuries in a car crash call their auto insurance company for advice. They think that they will get fair and timely compensation for the injuries sustained in an auto accident. They paid for auto insurance to be covered in case of an accident.
Many insurance companies use common delay tactics, such as not returning calls, denials, placing victims on hold for long periods of time, asking them to gather records repeatedly, and switching between adjusters. Innocent car accident victims need to consult an attorney because of the mounting financial burden and increasing medical bills. It can even lead to them accepting a very low settlement offer that limits their future damages recovery.
How to protect yourself
Contact an auto accident lawyer if you experience these delays. He can help you process your claim and get you the benefits that you are entitled under your state law.
Bottom line:
Consult an attorney immediately if your accident results in injuries to yourself or your family, even if they seem minor. You will not only be better informed about the benefits you have, but you’ll also feel secure knowing that you were entitled to all benefits and compensation for injured drivers.