When a person is injured in a car accident caused by another driver, they will usually file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company. However, there are some situations where the injured party may file a claim with their own insurance company, such as in the case when the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured to cover all of the victim’s losses.

While you may expect another person’s insurance company to try to minimize or deny your claim, the last thing you might think is that your own insurance company would try to do the same thing. Unfortunately, it is par for the course and happens far too often. If you are having a difficult time with your insurance company, call our office to speak with one of our Virginia Beach car accident attorneys to find out what legal options you may have.

Fighting for Your Damages

Despite insurance companies promoting themselves with misleading slogans such as “like a good neighbor,” “you’re in good hands,” “on your side,” and “peace of mind,” the bottom line is that these are for-profit companies and every time they have to pay a person damages, their bottom line is affected. This means that insurance adjusters do their best to avoid paying victims the amount they deserve and are legally entitled to, even if that means sticking it to their own clients.

Even more alarming is that it is not just small, fairly unknown insurance companies that engage in these practices. One organization, the American Association of Justice, conducted extensive investigations of some of the country’s most trusted and well-known insurance companies. Despite raking in more than $1 trillion in premiums each year, these companies often do everything they can to cheat victims out of the compensation they deserve. Some of the more common tactics used include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:

  • The company will dispute the terms of the client’s insurance policy, including what it covers and what dates it was in effect.
  • The company will claim the client did something that violates the terms of their policy.
  • The company will dispute the circumstances surrounding the accident or incident that caused the injury.
  • The company will downplay or minimize the extent of the injuries the victim has suffered.
  • The company will downplay or minimize the amount of medical expenses the victim has suffered.
  • The company will downplay or minimize the amount of lost wages and benefits the victim has suffered.
  • The company will immediately offer the victim a settlement much less than they deserve for the losses they have suffered or will suffer in the future.
  • The company will delay negotiating the settlement and not return the victim’s phone calls.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has enacted laws that are designed to help protect victims from unscrupulous companies. To protect your right to file a claim with your insurance company:

  • Make sure to locate the original policy documents that will provide the coverage terms.
  • Make sure to keep a record of all medical expenses, pay stubs, out-of-pocket expenses, and any other receipts that are connected to the injuries.
  • Keep all correspondence and documentation from the insurance company.
  • Avoid speaking to the insurance company or signing any documents without first consulting with a personal injury attorney from our firm.
  • Contact a personal injury attorney immediately.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm Today

If you have been injured in an accident, do not try to negotiate with the insurance company yourself. Let one of our Virginia Beach car accident lawyers work on your behalf to get you the best possible outcome based on the circumstances of your case. We’ll deal with the insurance company while you focus on your recovery.

The legal team from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has been advocating for injured clients since 1985 and will do all we can to ensure you receive the best possible outcome under the circumstances of your case. Contact our office today to schedule a free case evaluation and find out how we can help. We are committed to getting our clients the financial compensation they are entitled to, as evidenced by the more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts our firm has obtained.

For your convenience, we have offices in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

 

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