If you’ve been in a car accident, you’ll undoubtedly hear from insurance representatives. Although they may seem friendly, it’s worth remembering that they don’t work for you. Their job is to protect their company’s bottom line, even if that profit comes at your expense. That means their goal is to pay as little as possible, even if you were seriously hurt. That’s why it’s so important to work with an attorney, whose job is to advocate on your behalf, and to watch out for the following tactics. If you find yourself in doubt about what to say (or not say), your attorney will advise you.

Here are the three most common ways a car insurance company might try to trick you into accepting less than your claim is worth.

Demanding a Recorded Statement

You are not obligated to give insurance companies a recorded statement after your car accident. Remember, it’s in the insurance company’s best interest to get you to admit fault. The insurance representative might talk to you at length about your accident. Their goal is to get you to admit something that would deem you at least partially liable. If they can demonstrate that you’re at fault in any way, they won’t have to pay out as much money.

Giving You a Lowball Settlement Offer

Once you accept a settlement offer, it’s irreversible. You can’t seek more money later, even if you find out that you took a bad deal. Insurance representatives might offer you what seems like a big chunk of money, but often it’s far less than what your case may actually be worth. Never accept the first settlement offer, even if they pressure you to give them an immediate answer. Your attorney can advise you as to whether a settlement offer is a good deal or if you need to hold out for more money.

Delaying Your Claim as Long as Possible

Finally, the insurance company will likely try to delay your claim as long as possible. This stalling technique can make people worry that their claim isn’t worth as much as it is. In Ohio, insurance companies have 15 days to acknowledge a claim, 21 days to accept or deny a claim after the proof of loss forms are filed, and 10 days to pay out a settlement after that if your claim is accepted. Don’t worry if they use all of those days. Your attorney will make sure you get the best deal possible.

Contact an Ohio Car Accident Attorney Today

Don’t let insurance companies lowball you. When it comes to getting the compensation you deserve, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at 877.944.4373 today for more information.