How to Negotiate with an Insurance Claims Representative

Negotiations with an insurance claims adjuster are often fruitless ventures for even the most intelligent injury victim. Claims representatives are highly trained on the art of minimizing injury settlements and increasing corporate profits. Payouts on injury settlments are based on two things, liability and causation. Liability isn't just who was responsible for causing the injury, but moreover, who is "legally accountable" to the injured party. Just because you were injured due to someone else's negligence, does not automatically entitle you to compensation from that person. Liability can be proven through the use of recorded statements and forensic evidence gathered by a Missouri injury lawyer. In the case of a Missouri semi-truck accident, that evidence can be voluminous.

The second component of any injury claim is medical causation. Did the accident in fact directly give rise to all of the injuries that you are claiming. Insurance adjusters love to aruge that injuries are "preexisting" or that medical treatment was "excessive or irrelevant" to the injury. It is easy to fall into this trap, especially if you sign a record release authorization that allows the insurance company to gather all of your medical records dating back to birth. It is a complete invasion of your privacy and your bargaining power is destroyed, especially if there is a health history that includes prior treatment to the body parts injured in the most recent crash.

As a Missouri injury attorney with extensive experience in settlement negotiations, I can tell you that claims adjusters rarely, if ever, play fair until we get involved in a case. Unfortunately they prey on the fact that all injury victims are under a certain degree of duress at the time of settlement. You need the money because medical bills are mounting and bill collectors are harrassing you. The adjuster knows this. One thing that a personal injury attorney can do is stop bill collectors and protect your credit during the claims process. More imprtantly, claims adjusters cannot misinterpret the law and use bogus tactics in minimizing your settlement.

To learn more about how to effectively negotiate a payout for your injury claim, contact the personal injury lawyers at Schultz Legal Group by calling (866) 840-3636. The call and consultation are always free of charge.