11 Things Your Insurance Company Doesn’t Want You to Know

Not only are you injured, but you have to deal with the insurance company as well. Before getting started, read the 11 things your insurance company doesn’t want you to know.

Hurt in a car accident? Suffered a work-related accident? Did you slip and fall and ended up in a hospital? Do you need to be compensated for your injuries?

Beware! The insurance company may have something quite different in mind.

Take note of these 11 things your insurance company doesn’t want you to know and safeguard yourself and your loved ones.

Discover How to Fight Insurance Companies (and Win)

Dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident is a stressful process that can quickly turn into a minefield.

Will you get paid fairly? Will you need to hire an attorney? Should you give a formal, recorded statement?
(If you don’t read any further, the answer to the last question is absolutely NOT!)

Not all accidents warrant hiring a personal injury attorney. If you didn’t suffer any wounds, sprains, or serious injuries, you can deal with your insurance company yourself.

Read this article if you want to know how to get a larger settlement for a car accident without using a lawyer (property damage and no serious injuries).

However, if you were hurt as a result of the accident, read these 11 things your insurance company doesn’t want you to know. Even if you hire an accident attorney, it is important to know this!

1 – Never Accept The Insurance Company’s First Offer

Insurance adjusters may act and sound super nice and “interested” in your case, but remember that they don’t work for you. They work for the insurance company.

Their goal is to save their employer money. It isn’t to pay what they owe so you can heal, pay your bills, and be made whole again.

If their first settlement offer was fair, they’d have been fired from their job a long time ago. You can be certain that the first offer the adjuster makes to settle your accident claim is lower than what you are entitled to.

Some claim reps will even argue that if the impact was minor, you may not even have sustained any injuries. Or they might suggest you’re not entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, lost income or wages, car rental expenses, or prescription costs. They do this hoping you’ll get intimidated or believe them and settle for their initial offer.

They want to trick you into thinking the car insurance company is being generous. In reality, they’re withholding the full amount you rightfully deserve.

2 – The Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend Nor Do They Look Out for Your Best Interest

Neither do their employees. They are expert negotiators and they are very well trained. They will say things like:

• “That’s my best offer.”
• “If you don’t accept this offer within 24 hours, I have to take it off the table.”
• “After analyzing your case, our experts concluded that your pain is related to a pre-existing back injury.”
• “You will get less money if you have to pay an attorney.”
• “You are undocumented.”

Do these statements ring a bell? Insurance adjusters know their business, they know human psychology, they know the law, and they know how to convince you so they can pay you as little as possible. Sometimes, they will even deny your claim.

If you don’t believe this, Google “insurance company denied my claim.” Moving on.

3 – The Insurance Company and Its “Duty to Defend”

If no one was injured in a New York accident, it might be best to let your insurance company defend your interests. They are responsible for paying for what your policy covers and will try to minimize their expense.

If you suffered a serious injury, were hospitalized, or became disabled, it’s crucial to seek legal representation to file a claim. Insurance adjusters and their attorneys are there to protect the insurer’s interests—not yours.

A study by the Insurance Research Council shows that people who hired an attorney after a car accident received twice as much money as those who did not.

Twice as much! Experiencing acute pain or injuries after an accident or have visited an emergency room or doctor? Hire a personal injury attorney right away. This will help secure the full compensation you deserve.

4 – Anything You Say Can (and Will) Be Used Against You

When you file an accident claim with an insurance company, they don’t just cut a check.

They’ll conduct a thorough investigation to decide whether to approve your claim. And, if so, how much they’re willing to pay for your property damage and injuries.

The primary goal of this investigation is to identify any legal grounds for denying or reducing your claim. They will ask you to give a formal, recorded statement of the accident.

They’ll make you feel comfortable when talking to the adjuster so you’ll say something they can later use against you. Something along the lines of “No, it doesn’t hurt that much,” or “Yes, I was leaving a friend’s party,” or “It could have been my fault,” or “I already had back pain, but the accident made it worse.”

Before giving out any statements, consult with an attorney. Even if you know you were partially at fault, you have every right to refuse giving out a statement. They cannot force you to give any information if you tell them that you must first talk with your lawyer.

Remember, the insurance company will use this information to PAY YOU LESS than what you deserve.

5 – DO NOT Sign or Grant Any Permissions They May Ask For

This is extremely important. After the accident, the stress might make you see the insurance company under a positive light. You might believe they are there to save you and protect you.

Ultimately, they’re a business like any other and can’t access your information without meeting the necessary legal requirements.

Know your rights—they are designed to protect you. They may ask for your permission to access your medical records to find a pre-existing condition or a reason to deny your claim.

Or they may ask you to sign a release form, which immediately releases them from any obligation to you. Watch out!

Before you sign any document or grant them any release, talk to an accident attorney.

Do not sign anything without consulting your lawyer.

It may sound repetitive, but you have every right to do this, and they cannot force you to provide information if you tell them you must first talk with your lawyer.

Remember, the insurance company will use this information to PAY YOU LESS than your fair share.

6- Do Not Use the Doctor Your Insurance Company Recommends

Your insurance adjuster will ask you to see one of the doctors in their network for treatment of for an IME (Independent Medical Exam). Do not go to that doctor.

New York is a “no-fault” state, which means your car insurance pays for your medical treatment. And if we’ve learned anything from the previous sections, is that insurance companies want to limit your compensation.

They will tell you they have a doctor or nurse who will assess your injuries. Remember, these are insurance doctors who will try to control your diagnosis and minimize your treatment. Which can have devastating effects on your health and your wallet.

Minimal treatment means minimal recovery. And you may cave in because finding doctors who will see you after an accident is not that easy in New York.

Don’t have a doctor who can treat you? Talk to our attorneys. At Liga de Justicia, we can refer you to top specialists. They will treat your injuries and assess the complexity of issues that can arise in a personal injury case.

7- Selfies: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Photos and videos you capture of the scene or your injuries help document what happened and can serve as valuable evidence.

To intimidate you, adjusters may claim that the court won’t accept such footage—but that’s simply not true.

If possible, photograph the accident scene, any damage, and visible injuries like bruises or scars. If someone recorded the accident as it happened, ask them to share the video with you.

8- The Insurance Company Classifies Your Claim as a Minor Injury (MIST)

Insurance companies tend to classify car accidents with minor damage, no fractured bones or major trauma, as MIST (Minor Impact Soft Tissue).

Insurers wrongfully deny these accident claims for soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, sprains, or strains.

If you suffered this type of injury, talk to an experienced New York car accident attorney.

9- No One Tells You About Your Deadlines for Filing a Claim

There are strict deadlines for filing insurance claims and statutes of limitations for personal injury cases, which vary from state to state. The time limits also differ based on the type of accident—whether it’s a vehicle collision, workplace injury, premises liability, slip and fall, wrongful death, or another personal injury case. There are exceptions as well.

That’s why it’s essential to be familiar with local regulations —or to work with an experienced New York personal injury attorney. Waiting too long to file your claim could mean losing your right to compensation.

Delaying can also jeopardize your case, as key evidence and witnesses tends to disappear. Don’t wait. Speak with a New York accident lawyer today.

10- They Will Tell You They’re Not Afraid to Go to Trial

But they are. Insurance companies will try to convince you that litigation is a waste of time or that they will win and you will pay for it.

They don’t want to spend money on a lawsuit and risk losing it. It is much cheaper for an insurance company to settle with you. And the amount they offer does not properly compensate you.

That’s when having a trial lawyer on your side works in your favor.

If they are not afraid to go to trial, neither is your lawyer. And your lawyers don’t get paid if they don’t win for you. Who should be afraid of whom?

11- Insurance Companies Don’t Always Act in Good Faith

Insurance companies are by no means free from oversight and liability. They are required by law to act in “good faith” when dealing with their policyholders.

This means that insurance companies must act in the best interest of their clients, not themselves. Unfortunately, many insurance companies forget about these regulations and sometimes must be “reminded” of their duty.

This is where an attorney can make all the difference.

Call Liga De Justicia, Your Attorneys to the Rescue

The experienced personal injury attorneys at Liga De Justicia have been fighting for clients across Long Island and NYC for over 36 years, securing more than $700,000,000 in settlements and verdicts. Let us help you—request a free consultation to review your case today.

With offices in Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island, we proudly serve the Latino community throughout Queens, Long Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and beyond. Call us now—your consultation is 100% confidential and completely free.