How Insurance Companies Minimize Payouts

After a pedestrian accident, an insurance company may appear ready to help. However, insurance companies are businesses, and they often look for ways to limit the amount they pay on a claim.

An adjuster may contact you soon after the accident and offer a quick settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries, future medical needs, or how the accident may affect your life. They may also question your injuries, argue that you share responsibility for the crash, or attempt to minimize your financial losses.

Common tactics insurance companies may use include:

• Offering a quick settlement: An early offer may not account for future medical treatment, lost income, rehabilitation, or the long term impact of your injuries.
• Requesting a recorded statement: Insurance adjusters may ask questions that could later be used to challenge or limit your claim.
• Questioning your injuries: They may argue your injuries were caused by a prior condition or were not related to the pedestrian accident.
• Shifting blame: Under SC's modified comparative negligence laws, an insurance company may try to place some responsibility on you to reduce the amount they pay.
• Disputing your losses: They may challenge medical expenses, lost wages, or the impact your injuries have had on your daily life.
• Delaying the process: Some insurers may use delays to create financial pressure and encourage you to accept less than your claim may be worth.

At Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, we know how insurance companies evaluate claims and the tactics they use to minimize payouts. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation. There are no upfront fees, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.