How Insurance Companies Minimize Baltimore Personal Injury Claims
Personal injuries in Baltimore can happen due to car crashes, falls, getting struck by objects in public places, and other causes. Negligence on the part of others involved is often responsible, and in the aftermath, you may find yourself dealing with their insurer.
While insurance can help cover your medical care, lost earnings, and other costs, it is common for insurance adjusters to downplay claims. Our experienced Maryland personal injury lawyers explain common tactics they employ and how to protect yourself when dealing with these companies.
Common Tactics Insurance Companies Use To Minimize Baltimore Injury Claims
Personal injuries are no minor matter. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, they are a leading cause of death and disability. While often referred to as “accidents”, recklessness on the part of others is often to blame.
In the aftermath, you have the right to compensation for your losses, which is often paid out through insurance companies. Unfortunately, tactics they routinely use to reduce or deny personal injury claims in Baltimore include:
- Requesting recorded statements immediately after the accident, which they then use against you.
- Disputing how the accident happened and the severity of your injuries.
- Offering a quick, lowball settlement that fails to factor in future medical costs and lost earnings.
- Using pre-existing injuries against you, even when the crash clearly aggravated a prior condition
- Claiming you were partially at fault could jeopardize your rights to compensation under Maryland’s contributory negligence rule.
Another common tactic is to deliberately delay the claims process, hoping that financial pressure will force you to accept a lesser amount.
How Baltimore Accident Victims Can Protect Themselves When Dealing with Insurers
The good news is that insurance company tactics lose much of their power once you know what to watch for. Practical steps that can help protect your Baltimore personal injury claim include:
- Always report any accident to the authorities immediately.
- Avoid downplaying your injuries and get medical care as soon as possible.
- Document everything related to the accident and your recovery, including medical bills, prescription costs, missed workdays, and the daily impact of your injuries on your life.
- Avoid posting about what happened or your injuries on social media, as insurers actively monitor these platforms for evidence to use against you.
- Keep copies of all correspondence with the insurer and note the date, time, and content of every phone call you receive.
Before making a recorded statement, accepting a settlement, or signing any documents, get professional legal help. The sooner our Maryland personal injury lawyers get involved, the better positioned you are to counter insurance strategies.
Contact Our Experienced Baltimore Personal Injury Lawyers Today
When personal injuries in Baltimore happen, insurance companies involved often try to dispute and downplay claims. At Maryland Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience dealing with claims adjusters, countering the tactics they use to shortchange victims, and fighting for the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
Don’t wait to get legal help. Call or contact our experienced Maryland personal injury lawyers online today to request a consultation.
Sources:
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/unintentional-injury-statistics
dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/CourtCrimCivil/Negligence-Systems.pdf
