5 Things Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know After a Car Accident
Car accidents are traumatic enough on their own. They usually entail the shock, the pain, the medical bills, and the lost work. But for many victims, the real struggle begins after the crash: when dealing with the insurance company.
Insurance companies like to present themselves as friendly and helpful, but make no mistake; they are for-profit businesses with one goal: to pay you as little as possible. And they’re very good at it.
At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we’ve seen every tactic in the book. We wholeheartedly believe that the more you know about how insurers operate, the better prepared you are to protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
Your Insurer Doesn’t Want You to Know About This
Here are five things insurance companies hope you never find out after a car accident.
1. Their First Offer Is Almost Always a Lowball
After a crash, insurers often move quickly to offer a settlement. They frame it as a gesture of goodwill: “We just want to help you move forward.” But in reality, the first offer is almost never close to what your claim is worth.
Why? Because they’re betting that you’re stressed, overwhelmed, and willing to accept quick cash to make the situation go away. Once you sign a settlement agreement, you give up your right to pursue additional compensation, even if you later discover that your injuries are more serious than you thought.
- What to do: Never accept an initial offer without speaking to an attorney. A Las Vegas car accident lawyer can calculate the true value of your claim and negotiate from a position of strength.
2. You’re Not Required to Give a Recorded Statement
One of the first things an insurance adjuster will ask is for a recorded statement. They might say it’s “just routine” or “needed to process your claim.” But here’s the truth: you are not legally required to give one. And, in fact, doing so can hurt your case.
Adjusters are trained to get you to say things that can later be used against you. Even innocent phrases like “I’m feeling better” or “I didn’t see the other car” can be twisted to suggest that your injuries aren’t serious or that you were at fault.
- What to do: Politely decline to provide a recorded statement until you’ve spoken with an attorney. Your lawyer can communicate with the insurer on your behalf and make sure your words aren’t used against you.
3. They May Try to Blame You (Even If You’re Not at Fault)
Nevada is a modified comparative negligence state (NRS 41.141), which means your compensation can be reduced if you’re found partially responsible for the accident. And if you’re more than 50% at fault, you can’t recover anything at all.
Insurance companies know this and often try to shift blame to you, even when it’s clear the other driver was negligent. They may exaggerate your role, question your behavior, or suggest that your injuries were pre-existing.
- What to do: Don’t accept their version of events. An experienced personal injury attorney can gather strong evidence to prove the other party’s negligence and protect your right to full compensation.
4. Your Claim May Be Worth More Than You Think
Insurance adjusters will often focus on immediate, visible costs: the damage to your car, the initial ER visit, maybe a few weeks of lost wages. But the reality is that many accident victims suffer long-term consequences that are not included in that calculation.
A comprehensive claim can include:
- Future medical care and rehabilitation
- Ongoing therapy or assistive devices
- Future lost income or diminished earning capacity
- Emotional distress and mental health treatment
- Pain and suffering and loss of quality of life
What to do: Before you agree to anything, have your case evaluated by a lawyer who understands how to calculate true damages, not just the ones the insurer admits to.
5. They Don’t Want You to Hire a Lawyer
Perhaps the biggest secret of all: insurance companies know they pay more when victims hire lawyers.
Represented claimants tend to recover significantly higher settlements than those who handle their claims alone. That’s why adjusters might try to discourage you from seeking legal counsel or even suggest you don’t need one. They know once you have an attorney, their ability to manipulate the situation drops dramatically.
- What to do: Contact an attorney as soon as possible after a crash. At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we deal with insurance companies every day and we know how to fight back against their tactics.
Let’s Protect Your Rights and Your Future
After an accident, you deserve better than to be pushed into a quick, unfair settlement by an insurance company more concerned with profits than people.
At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we fight to make sure you get every dollar you’re entitled to, and we don’t get paid unless we win. Give us a call today to schedule your free consultation. Call at 702-450-5000.
Source:
leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-041.html
