After getting involved in a motor vehicle accident in Florida, you can go directly to your insurance provider for compensation. Your policy should help cover your medical expenses and property damages regardless of who caused the accident. Unfortunately, while you might believe your insurance provider has your best interests at heart, you must understand that they are in the industry to earn. If they gave every claimant the maximum amount of compensation, they would not be in this business for too long.
The goal of insurance companies is to make money and keep it
If the attorneys and adjusters working for the insurance company can find any reason not to honor a claim, they will likely use it. They aim to pay you as little as possible, meaning they will aggressively attempt to minimize the amount they owe you or deny your claim altogether. Representatives from insurance companies may even intentionally delay your claim or offer you a lowball settlement to convince you to accept less than what they owe.
Insurance adjusters might use what you say or do against you
When you file a car insurance claim, the company will send an adjuster to oversee your case. You might think they are advocating on your behalf, but the adjuster is actually representing the insurance company. They will investigate all the facts surrounding the case to determine liability. They can use anything they find to lessen the settlement offer significantly.
You may lack experience in negotiating
Trusted and reputable insurance companies have typically been in the business for years. Therefore, they have a lot of experience dealing with claims similar to yours. They have lawyers and adjusters who know exactly what to say to victims to get them to admit fault or agree to a low settlement.
Your claim may be worth more than you realize
If your damages exceed your state-required policy coverage, you might have to seek compensation from the at-fault driver. You will need help assessing the damages you suffered as a result of the accident and computing the exact amount of compensation you could obtain from your own insurance provider and possible third-party claim.
Victims who talk directly to their insurance provider without legal representation are more likely to accept less than what they deserve. Do not let the insurance company take advantage of you.