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Franklin Truck Accident Attorney

How Do Insurance Companies Reduce or Deny Claims?

After your truck accident, you may think that your next course of action is to simply get reimbursed by the insurance company for your medical bills and lost wages. However, it’s rarely that simple. In fact, the majority of insurance companies rake in huge profits every year by denying claims and reducing compensation for injured victims.

At Matt Hardin Law, our Franklin truck accident attorneys know the tricks of the trade of insurance companies and how they get away with paying reduced settlement offers. However, we also know that there are certain things victims like you should be aware of to increase your chances of getting the full compensation you deserve.

Common Reasons for Reduced or Denied Claims

In our years of experience handling truck accident claims, we know that some of the most common reasons people receive “lowball” or denied settlements from insurance companies include:

  • Lack of evidence proving the victim wasn’t at fault
  • Insurance companies are often hesitant to pay out claims if they don’t have proof that the accident wasn’t the victim’s fault. Evidence proving fault can consist of things like traffic camera footage of the accident, witness statements, pictures of the crash scene, police reports, and more.

  • Lack of evidence that injuries were caused by the accident
  • It’s vital for truck accident victims to go to the hospital soon after the accident for two reasons: First, some injuries may be internal and not become symptomatic until serious complications develop. Second, a medical report of injuries caused by the accident can help definitively prove that the victim suffered their injuries during the accident itself and not as a result of a pre-existing condition.

  • Acceptance of an initial settlement offer
  • Insurance companies will often contact victims soon after their accidents and offer initial settlements to cover the first-wave of medical bills and lost wages. Because many victims are in shock and not thinking clearly, they may accept this initial offer. However, once victims accept any settlement offers from insurance companies, they automatically forfeit their rights to pursue further compensation to cover their future medical bills and lost wages.

  • Admittance of fault in the accident
  • When insurance adjusters contact truck accident victims, they often attempt to extract a confession of guilt for causing the accident during the conversation. Even admittance of partial guilt may be enough for insurance companies to reduce or deny a settlement altogether. In many cases, truck accident victims aren’t even aware that they have admitted partial guilt until their claim for compensation is denied.

  • Too much time passed between the accident and the claim.
  • Generally, insurance companies expect truck accident victims to file claims for compensation almost immediately after their accidents. In fact, the more time that passes between the date of the accident and the date victims file for compensation, the less likely the victims are to get compensation when they first file a claim. In addition, insurance companies can also claim that any injuries suffered in the accident were caused by something else if the victims wait too long.

As you can see, insurance companies will employ many tactics to avoid having to pay truck accident victims the money they need for their accident-related expenses. At Matt Hardin Law, our Franklin truck accident lawyers know how to help victims like you avoid these pitfalls—but its best if you call us right away after your accident.

To get experienced helped on your side today, contact our legal professionals by dialing fill out a free online form. We’re dedicated to fighting for the rights of truck accident victims like you and standing up to big insurance companies, and we’ll do everything in our power to make sure your family gets the compensation you deserve.

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Client Review

“I'm super pleased with Matt and his whole team. I was hesitant to contact a lawyer after my accident, but I'm so glad I did!”

William