After a car accident in Iowa, you will usually be contacted by a representative from the other driver’s insurance company. This representative may try to establish a bond with you, pretending they care about how you’re feeling.
Throughout the years, we have seen a lot of these tricks by these adjusters to try and make sure they pay you as little as possible. Here are 3 ways that the insurance companies will try to rip you off after a serious car crash in Iowa:
1. They want you to give a recorded statement.
Soon after you’ve been in a crash, the other side’s insurance company will call and ask you to tell your side of the story. They will ask if they can record what you are saying so that they have it for documentation purposes.
Before you agree to this, understand that this is a tactic used by insurance companies to lowball car accident victims. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions that may seem innocent but could hurt you and your claim in the end.
Refusing to give a recorded statement is within your rights and will not affect the amount of compensation that you will ultimately receive. That is why we recommend you refuse to give a recorded statement until you have spoken with an experienced Iowa car accident lawyer.
2. They need you to sign a medical release form (or they won’t pay your bills).
The adjuster will ask you to sign a medical release form that gives them access to your medical records. Unfortunately, these medical release forms are written to give them access to ALL your medical records – even the ones that have nothing to do with your car accident injuries. They will then turn around and use your pre-accident health history against you.
To protect yourself from this, do not sign any medical release forms from the other side’s insurance company until you’ve spoken with a lawyer about your case.
3. The insurance company wants to settle your claim quickly.
You have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit or settle your case. This is known as the statute of limitations, and it applies to all Iowa car accident claims. The insurance company knows this, but they want to settle your claim fast so they can get away with paying you less.
Here’s how they do it: if you are still healing from your injuries, your medical bills will still be coming in. If you sign settlement paperwork while you are continuing to attend appointments, those medical bills will need to be paid out of your own pocket.
You deserve fair compensation after your accident, not being jerked around, and offered lowball settlement offers.
Your Insurance Company is Not on Your Side
You might think that your insurance company is on your side after a serious car crash, but that could not be further from the truth. If you have to file a claim against them after you’ve been injured in a crash, there is no guarantee that they will treat you right. They are a business, and they like to make and keep their money. So even if you have been a customer with them for years and paid your premiums on time, they may still pay you as little compensation as they can get away with.
So how can you make sure you’re getting a fair settlement for your Iowa car accident claim?
You need to speak with an experienced Iowa car crash lawyer as soon as you can after your crash. Most personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation so you can have your case analyzed without any cost to you.
If you would like to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation with one of our experienced Iowa car accident attorneys, call RSH Legal today at 1-319-774-1903.
