What a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Tell You About Insurance Companies

In many civil cases, it is not so much about a private plaintiff against the direct negligent party, but rather that party's insurance company. This is especially true in the case of car crashes, which make up a substantial portion of these cases. And insurance companies do not take a backseat approach to the case. They don't simply show up at the end of the trial to write the check. They will be involved from the very beginning, determining fault and (likely) lowballing you on an offer for your pain and suffering. Here are some of the things any personal injury lawyer will tell you about these companies.

They Are a Business

It's important that you don't forget that an insurance company is a business, first and foremost. Everything they do is calculated to make the most profit and, in the situation you're facing, losing the least amount of it to an unfortunate incident. If they can get you to go away with a figure that is within their projected loss, they have won. Of course, a personal injury lawyer isn't a tool you use in a game to make sure the insurance company feels a loss. If their initial offer fully covers your bills and is satisfactory, there's no reason not to accept it. So often, however, this isn't the case.

You're Up Against Attorneys

Often, people have mixed feelings about hiring a personal injury lawyer. They don't want to escalate the situation. After all, the people from the insurance company have been so nice on the phone. Remember this, though: you're not escalating the situation; you're merely evening the playing field. The insurance company is already working with their lawyers from the moment they got involved. They are legally advised on every move they make. Don't you deserve the same treatment?

Be Careful What You Say

While not every question an insurance adjuster asks you is necessarily designed to illicit a certain response, you can be certain that at least some of their questions are. If they can get you to say something that minimizes their client's negligence or their culpability for the incident, they have a weapon they can use in negotiations going forward. If you've already made a statement against yourself on the record, they will have a much easier time making their case in court. That's why you should be careful about talking to them and consult a personal injury lawyer before you start answering questions.