If you have a serious motor vehicle accident, you probably expect the insurance company to process your claim quickly and offer you a settlement that covers all of your damages. After all, you never miss a premium payment and have good coverage. Unfortunately, though, you may be in for a surprise.
With very few exceptions, insurance companies keep shareholders happy by making as much money as possible. This often means collecting monthly premiums while making abysmally low settlement offers or denying claims outright. Even worse, the insurance company can try to trick you into doing something to harm your claim.
Blanket medical authorizations
It is not uncommon for insurance companies to request blanket medical authorizations from those who suffer injuries in car accidents. These authorizations may seem normal, as they relate to physical and mental injuries. Nevertheless, if your medical file has something useful for the insurance company, signing a blanket medical authorization may be a bad idea.
Acceptance of fault
According to Psych Central, many individuals over-apologize. If you are one of them, you may say you are sorry for something even if you are not to blame for it. In the context of an insurance claim, you probably do not want to accept fault. If you give a statement to the insurance company and apologize for the accident, you may inadvertently do just that.
It can be tempting to talk to the insurance company, as its adjuster probably knows how to sympathize with you and appear ready to help. Ultimately, though, by understanding your legal rights and obligations, you may keep an insurer from tricking you into sabotaging your claim.