Slater Truck Accident Injury Attorneys

After a truck accident near Slater, the insurance company is rarely the ally it appears to be. Insurance companies are some of the richest and most powerful corporations in the country, and each year they work to reduce the rights and compensation available to injured Iowans. What they don't control are the judges and juries who ultimately decide how much compensation someone deserves. The Slater truck accident attorneys at Walker, Billingsley & Bair want local victims to understand what insurers do not want them to know, whether the insurance company can really be trusted, and how to protect a claim from start to finish.

What Insurers Don't Want You to Know

Here are five things insurance companies do not want Slater truck accident victims to know.

The Insurance Company Is Legally Allowed to Lie and Cheat You

There is no law requiring the insurance company for the other side to tell you the truth or to do anything in your best interests. An adjuster will sometimes act like your friend and try to build trust, which is common when your injuries are serious. It is a bad idea to trust an adjuster for the other side, since their job is to pay you as little money as possible, and some are even rewarded for building a track record of underpaying claims.

You Do Not Have to Give Them a Recorded Statement

An insurance adjuster may tell you they need a recorded statement to evaluate your claim, but in reality, you have no obligation to give the insurance company for the other side one. The reason they want it is so they can ask you questions in a way that lets them use your answers against you later. Your credibility is very important in any injury case, which is exactly why an adjuster will try to damage it right away.

Their "Final Offer" Is Usually Not Their Best Offer

During negotiations, the insurance company will often tell you that a particular number is their final offer, when in reality it is often not their best offer. There is little to lose by proposing a different number to settle your case, since it is unlikely they will simply refuse to offer anything at all. Sometimes a lawsuit needs to be filed to see the insurer's actual best offer.

They Will Intentionally Frustrate You

Some adjusters use a low initial offer specifically because they know it can frustrate a claimant, and a certain percentage of people will accept a low-ball offer just to stop dealing with the adjuster. If you have sustained a serious injury with lifelong effects on your health, consider turning things over to an experienced injury attorney who knows how to deal with these tactics.

Can You Trust the Insurance Company After a Truck Accident?

In Iowa alone, there are more than 100 insurance companies that sell insurance, with policies ranging from personal injury to workers' compensation coverage. Just because you pay a premium does not mean your own insurance company is going to look out for you. Some people think that if they are injured, their own insurance company will go after the other party on their behalf, which is simply not true. While your insurer will try to recover what it paid for property damage, it is highly unlikely they will pursue a claim for your personal injuries.

What to Know About the Trucking Company's Insurer

If you are dealing with the insurance company for the trucking company that injured you, remember that the insurance company is not representing you or your best interests, they are not required to tell you the truth, and they are in the business of making the most profit possible, which means paying you as little as possible. The adjuster may be nice to you, but they are not looking out for you, and insurance companies generally do not like paying claims.

Keep Documentation of Your Damages

Document your damages by keeping a diary or journal of how you are feeling. Your diary can help prove the extent of your damages and can mean a higher evaluation of your claim. This includes keeping doctors' excuses for missed work and tracking the time you miss for appointments, as well as reviewing and retaining any medical bills or explanation of benefits forms from your health insurance company.

Be Thorough and Consistent at Medical Appointments

The medical records generated when you visit your doctor, physical therapist, or other providers are very important, since they include your description of how you were injured, your physical complaints, and the treatment you received. The insurance company will base its offer on this information, so if you fail to tell your doctor everything that hurts, it will not be treated properly and no one will know about it. Regularly attending your appointments also matters, since failing to see a physician regularly is considered evidence that you have fully recovered. If your doctor says to follow up as needed, that means returning in a few weeks if problems continue.

Protecting Your Truck Accident Claim: 5 Things You Need to Know

Regardless of which law firm a Slater truck accident victim chooses to represent them, a handful of core principles are critical to receiving a fair and just settlement.

Tell Your Doctor Everything That Hurts

One of the most critical pieces of evidence is how you feel and how your injuries have affected your ability to function on a daily basis. If you first begin to complain about a problem weeks or months after you were hurt, the insurance company will claim the problem was not related to the accident and reduce its settlement offer.

Follow Your Doctor's Orders

If your doctor tells you to get therapy several days a week but you only go once, you will damage your claim. The insurance company will argue that you could not have been truly injured, or you would have followed your doctor's recommendations, and will reduce its offer as a result.

Keep a Diary to Document Your Injuries

Few people ever think to write down how they felt after a wreck. A diary helps provide an accurate account of your injuries and how they affected your ability to function day to day, and it can mean a higher evaluation of your claim.

Keep Documentation Regarding Missed Work

It is important to keep track of the time you missed from work, including keeping doctors' excuses for missed work and documenting the time you miss for medical appointments.

Be Careful What You Say

The insurance company and its lawyers will use anything and everything you tell them against you. No matter what, do not lie. Even a small lie can ruin your credibility, so the best policy is to always tell the truth, so you never have to worry about what you said.