Insurance Claims

Filing a Claim With GEICO

Once you file a claim with GEICO, the claim is assigned to a claims adjuster. A claims adjuster accumulates the information from the accident and applies a generic approach to settling your claim. The claims adjuster simply plugs the particulars into a computer program or researches your injury in a claims book that is the baseline for the insurance industry regarding payment for particular injuries.

For example, assume you have a broken hand from striking the dashboard of your car in the accident. The adjuster researches that particular injury code and derives a settlement amount based on the industry standards. The claims adjuster then offers you that sum to settle your claim. While unbiased, this procedure hardly seems fair because each accident is different. Injuries are specific to the person involved.

If you required surgery to repair your broken hand, then the expected settlement amount according to industry standards may be insufficient. If you have missed work because of the injury, your settlement amount should be higher. Consequently, you must take a strong bargaining position against GEICO’s claims adjusters to be able to receive the compensation you deserve for your loss.

Suggestions To Strengthen Your Bargaining Position With GEICO in Denver

You should expect that the GEICO claims adjuster will deny your first demand for settlement. The adjuster will expect you to come down to something satisfactory for them. The key to a just and fair settlement is to convince the adjuster that you deserve greater compensation than the industry standard dictates. You make your case before you ever speak with the adjuster. You must build a strong case and be prepared before you make a settlement demand. Here are a few steps you can take to strengthen your position:

• Make sure you have all of your facts straight and all of the documents generated from the accident ready for reference. You should have police reports, medical bills, repair bills, and lost wages compiled before you attempt settlement negotiations. An important part of making your case is taking photographs of the damage to your car, your injuries, and the accident scene if possible.
• You should ask your doctor to prepare a report that discusses the extent of your injuries, the recovery process, whether you suffered a disability from the crash, the duration or permanency of the injuries, and the likelihood that you make a full recovery.
• Establish the amount that will force you to walk away from negotiation and file a lawsuit. Insurance companies know that lawsuits can cost them more money in the end. Taking a firm stance may force them to reconsider their position and offer you a just settlement amount.

Our Denver Car Accident Lawyers Can Help

Negotiating with claims adjusters is very difficult. The best option for you might be to have experienced car accident attorneys negotiate on your behalf.

At Zinda Law Group, our Denver personal injury attorneys have successfully negotiated settlements with GEICO and will work diligently to reach a fair and just resolution of your claim. Contact us at (800) 863-5312 today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you with your claim against GEICO.

How to Negotiate with a Claims Adjuster

Understanding and preparing for the negotiation process with a claims adjuster is a crucial step in receiving a successful settlement for your personal injury claim. GEICO claims adjusters are experienced negotiators, so preparing for the process beforehand will allow for a more reasonable outcome.

1. Keep all documents: Make a paper trail for everything you spend because of the accident. Keep receipts from the auto body shop, keep records of your medical expenses, make a record of any negative changes in your quality of life, and make a record of any disruptions the accident has caused to your job.

2. Decide the minimum amount you are willing to accept: Be reasonable with this number, as it will create a baseline for the entire negotiation process. It is important to keep this number to yourself. You don’t want the claims adjuster to know how low you are willing to go.

3. Make the first offer: Be reasonable when making the first offer. By making the first offer instead of the claims adjuster, you set the tone of the negotiation. You create the standard for which GEICO must counter. But don’t make your first offer unreasonable. You don’t want the entire negotiation process to get started off on the wrong foot.

4. Prepare a reasonable counteroffer: If GEICO has rejected your first offer and presented you with an unreasonable counteroffer, it is now your turn to counter. Don’t be afraid to aggressively demand what you feel you are owed, but be realistic in your counter.

5. Contact a personal injury attorney: If you feel like you are being treated unfairly throughout the negotiation process or feel that you are not getting the results you expected, it may be time to consider contacting a personal injury attorney. Whether insurance companies will admit it or not, claims adjusters act differently when speaking to experienced attorneys. When speaking to attorneys, claims adjusters may become more flexible and may be more prone to giving concessions.

Remember – Claims adjusters are experienced negotiators. This is their job. Keep in mind that every negotiation tactic may not work, but contacting a personal injury attorney allows for a more level playing field during negotiations.

Get Help from Experienced Las Cruces Injury Attorneys

The best negotiation tactic you can use is to turn to a knowledgeable injury attorney for help. At Zinda Law Group, our Las Cruces auto injury attorneys have experience representing auto accident victims and their families. Our Las Cruces accident lawyers will provide you legal advice while working diligently to try to reach ideal compensation for you.

Call us today at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with one of our experienced injury lawyers in Las Cruces.

Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.

How Is a Claim Evaluated?

It is widely known that insurance companies have programs, books, and other resources available that help them construct a settlement offer for your claim. These resources assign standardized values to your claim’s component parts.

For example, there is a standard amount offered for a broken bone, for a damaged fender, and for nonspecific back pain. Unfortunately, these amounts may or may not correspond to your actual expenses and losses.

You may find it necessary to negotiate a better settlement with your Amica claim adjustor. If you attempt to do this, the following tips may help you in securing the settlement you need:

Know the Amount You Actually Need

This may seem elementary, but it is hard to negotiate a settlement that is favorable to you if you do not know what you actually need. It is important that you get reasonable estimates for repairs to your car and get the medical treatment required to make a full recovery.

Knowing these amounts makes it easy to justify a higher settlement amount. It is hard, for example, for your adjustor to insist on paying you $2,000 for a broken hand when your doctor needed to perform $5,000 worth of treatment. While you should not go overboard or grossly exaggerate your expenses, you should not be ashamed to ask for the compensation that matches the full extent of your damages.

Keep Your Story Straight

Your adjustor may question you at length about the car accident. He will likely ask you how it happened and who was at fault.

Some people who are sure of the details at first begin to fidget under this intense questioning, stating that the accident “might” have been their fault or they weren’t really sure of what happened. This puts you in a bad negotiating position.

As soon as possible after your car accident, be sure to write down the important details so you can refer to them later. This will help you keep the details of your accident consistent throughout the claims process and will help you resist settling your claim for less.

Be Reasonable but Firm

In any negotiation, both parties attempt to leave with something they want. You want compensation for your injuries; your adjustor wants to pay as little as possible.

You can expect there to be some give-and-take. However, you should have a minimum amount of compensation you are willing to take, and be firm on those damages.

If the adjuster does not offer you your minimum amount, consider carefully whether to accept such an offer or if you want to pursue other avenues, like a lawsuit. Whereas taking a claim to court may net you more money, it may take more time to get the compensation.

Get Help from El Paso Injury Attorneys

Contact us at Zinda Law Group for help negotiating an injury claim with Amica Insurance. We have helped victims of car accidents, slip and falls, workplace injuries, and more deal with claim adjusters will help you do the same.

Call us at (800) 863-5312 to schedule a free consultation and learn what we can do for you. You only pay if we win. Meetings by appointment only.