Two-Faced Agent Like A Good Neighbor…I Think Not

You’re driving down the road, it’s a bright sunny day, the kids are in the back seat, and you’re all singing along to your favorite song on the radio.  Life is good, and even the traffic seems lighter than usual today.  The light ahead turns green. As you pass through the intersection, a driver runs a red light, and just like that, your good day, along with your vehicle, lies in ruin along the roadway.  You’re in pain. Your kids are crying in the back seat.

What happens now?

A serious injury after an auto collision can turn your life upside down.  You’re injured. Often, you can’t work.  Medical bills, along with all your regular bills, begin to pile up. The doctors can’t or won’t tell you when you’ll be able to return to work.

What makes this all so much worse is that all of this is on your plate because of an auto collision that was someone else’s fault. It is impossible not to feel angry, depressed, frustrated, worried, and confused when this happens to you.

It’s not fair, and unfortunately, it just gets worse.

Insurance companies that are supposed to be there “like a good neighbor’ and “on your side” are just the opposite.

These for-profit businesses remain profitable by limiting their insured driver’s liability by any means necessary.

Insurance company adjusters are not your friends.

The insurance adjuster working for your insurance company knows how you feel.  They know you are in pain and worried about your future—and they will gladly take advantage of your vulnerable state.

An insurance adjuster is a highly skilled professional. Often, adjusters are lawyers who are master manipulators trained in conversation. They know how to expertly lead you into saying something that may be detrimental to your case.

Here’s how this typically works…you get a call a couple of days after your accident, maybe while still in the hospital. The adjuster on the other line comes across like a concerned friend – acting as if they are happy to lend a sympathetic ear (while recording every word you say).

They aim to keep you talking until you say something that will let them deny or seriously undervalue your claim.

If they realize they can’t avoid paying you, their next tactic is to offer you a fast cash settlement offer. This offer often comes quickly, sometimes within days after the accident.

The offer will sound generous on the surface. But don’t let yourself be fooled. This is the adjuster’s way of limiting their company’s liability.

If you accept a fast cash settlement (and sign a release of future liability), you cannot later go back and get more or “open” your case – by accepting their offer, you put your recovery at risk.

With no knowledge of how long it takes for a back, neck, hip, or knee injury to resolve and no knowledge of how an apparent small injury can morph into a terrible problem, an injured person cannot know if a settlement made by an insurance company is in good faith, fair or reasonable.

If you’ve been badly injured because of someone else’s negligence, someone who was not paying attention or was reckless, don’t let an insurance adjuster bully or trick you and deny you the medical care you need and the fair compensation you deserve for your injuries and loss.

If you have any questions or concerns or if you are reading this after being involved in an accident, please contact my office at 703-761-4343 or 301-949-1515.

I’m happy to answer your questions and help in every way I can.

Please be safe, and NEVER text while driving!

Paul Samakow

Attorney Paul Samakow