Dallas Injury Lawyer Explains the Role of Insurance Companies in Personal Injury Claims

Insurance Company Tactics You Need to Know About if You’re Hurt

When you've been injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence, you expect their insurance company to step up and compensate you for your losses. Unfortunately, securing a fair settlement is rarely that simple. The role of the insurance companies in personal injury claims is focused on protecting their profits, which often means minimizing payouts to injured claimants.

At Armstrong Law, we've seen firsthand how insurance companies try to take advantage of unrepresented injury victims in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Warren Armstrong, our experienced personal injury attorney in Dallas, TX, is here to level the playing field and fight to maximize compensation. 

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Understanding the Insurance Company's Priorities in Personal Injury Claims

Many people assume that if they've been injured due to someone else's negligence, the at-fault party's insurance company will readily pay for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. In reality, insurers are always looking out for their own bottom line.

Insurance adjusters are trained to settle claims for as little money as possible. They may try to get you to accept a lowball offer before the full extent of your injuries is known, or they might look for ways to shift blame onto you and deny the claim altogether.

It's important to recognize that insurance companies have teams of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys working to protect their interests. Their priority is to make money for their shareholders, not to ensure injured victims are made whole again. Without an aggressive legal advocate, you may be pressured into accepting far less than your claim is worth.

How Insurance Companies Evaluate Personal Injury Claims

When you file a personal injury claim in Dallas, TX, the insurance company will assign an adjuster to investigate your case. The adjuster's job is to gather evidence and determine how much (if anything) the insurer should pay out on the claim. Factors they consider include:

• The severity and extent of your injuries
• Whether their policyholder was clearly at fault 
• The amount of available insurance coverage
• Your medical expenses and lost wages to date
• Your projected future medical needs and costs
• Whether you may have contributed to causing the accident

Common Reasons Why Personal Injury Claims Get Denied

Insurance companies look for reasons to deny claims outright or justify lowball settlement offers. Some of the most common justifications they use include:

• Disputing liability. The insurer may argue that there's insufficient evidence that their policyholder was at fault or even try to shift some blame onto you.
• Questioning injury severity. Adjusters may claim your injuries aren't as serious as you say or that your treatment to date has been excessive and unnecessary. 
• Claiming a preexisting condition. If you have any history of prior injuries or medical conditions, the insurance company may argue that your current symptoms are unrelated to the accident.
• Spotting discrepancies. If there are any inconsistencies in your account of the accident or gaps in your medical treatment, the insurer will use them to cast doubt on your credibility.
• Asserting failure to mitigate. The insurance company may contend that you failed to take reasonable steps to minimize your losses after the accident.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can anticipate these arguments and gather the necessary evidence to counter them. That's why it's so important to have strong legal representation from the start.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Dallas?

Whether dealing with insurance companies or not, it's important to understand the statute of limitations, aka the length of time you have to file a claim before you can no longer do so. In the video below, our Dallas personal injury lawyer discusses how much time you have:

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help With Insurance Negotiations

Negotiating a fair settlement on your own can be an uphill battle. The insurance adjuster has extensive experience settling claims and a vested interest in convincing you to accept a lowball offer. 

Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to handle your claim levels the playing field. An attorney can:

• Conduct an independent investigation into your accident
• Gather compelling evidence to build your case
• Place an appropriate value on your claim
• Handle all communications with the insurance company
• Aggressively negotiate for a favorable settlement
• Have the experience and resources to take your case to trial if necessary

When an insurance company sees that you have a lawyer willing to fight for you, they may be more likely to negotiate in good faith. An attorney like Warren Armstrong can advise you on when to accept a settlement offer or keep fighting for more compensation.

Contact Our Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer for Help With Your Claim

Armstrong Law is committed to building strong cases and securing recoveries for personal injury clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

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Ready to take the next step? Complete our convenient online contact form by clicking the button above, or call us at (866) 932-1288 for immediate assistance. You pay nothing unless we win your case!