Bloomington Injury Attorneys Discuss Ways Adjusters Lowball Claimants

Some insurance adjusters may do just about anything to get personal injury claimants to take smaller damage amounts. Bloomington injury attorneys can tell you that some adjusters may even attempt to use your own attorney to lowball you. For example, without providing all of the necessary facts and information in the case, a claims representative may try to have another personal injury lawyer draft an opinion letter that gives a lower claims value than it is worth. The adjuster can then use this letter as leverage in settling the claim.

Location, Location, Location and Other Strategies

Claimants who live in different states from the one in which their injuries occurred are at a disadvantage. As your Bloomington injury attorneys can explain, insurance representatives are aware that most claimants don’t want to take time off of work and spend money on travel and lodging to fight a claim in a different state. Thus, a claims representative may make a smaller settlement offer for those living outside the court jurisdiction, knowing that the claimants will likely accept whatever is given.

Bloomington injury lawyers can also explain that claims representatives may use a claimant’s lifestyle against him or her. For instance, they may try to make a smaller offer to a claimant who belongs to a motorcycle gang because they believe jurors would not look at the person in a positive light.

Bloomington injury attorneys will tell you that some claims representatives may actually stoop so low as to hire experts that will testify to anything that will damage a claim. Having an expert report in the claim file protects an adjuster from seeming as though the case included an improper adjustment. Bloomington injury attorneys can tell you it is important to remember that the insurance adjuster controls the investigation handled by the expert. Therefore, the insurer should evaluate the expert’s report for anything incomplete or biased and then revise it or toss it out if necessary.

Contact Bloomington Injury Lawyers for Assistance

Insurance adjusters use a bag of tricks to try to get claimants to accept low settlement offers. If you have questions about a personal injury case, call Bloomington injury attorneys at McCarthy Rowden & Baker at 800-373-6050.