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.

Medical Record Release

In the majority of cases, you will not want to sign a medical record release form. A medical record release form allows the insurance company access to all your medical history, even if it is unrelated to the injuries sustained in the accident. Every doctor’s visit and hospital stay will be available to them. The insurance company can then put this information in a database for other insurance companies to utilize.

The insurance company will attempt to use your medical history against you. They will try and attribute your past medical history to your current injuries or pain in an attempt to reduce your claim.

There will undoubtedly be some medical information that is necessary to provide to the insurance company. In that case, give them specific documents that they request instead of providing them unfettered access into your personal medical history.

Property Damage Release

This kind of release form is most commonly used after a car accident in which your vehicle was totaled. When the insurer determines that your car is totaled, you will receive a check and a property damage release. By either cashing the check or signing this release form, you are agreeing that the insurer does not owe you anything else from the accident with regard to your property.

After this is signed, you are barred from asking for more money or replacement property from the insurer. Because of this, it is important to ensure that you are comfortable with the amount of money they send you. If you don’t believe the amount is fair, don’t cash the check or sign anything.

You will also want to ensure that you are not releasing the insurer from your personal injury claims. Before signing the release, make sure there is a clear indication that you are only releasing the insurer from property liability.

Understand Your Rights Before Signing

It is always good practice to understand what exactly each document is before signing it. If you are not sure what the document means or what the consequences of signing are not, you should ask the insurer additional questions or contact a personal injury lawyer who can explain all your legal rights and guide you through the process.

Our Tucson Accident Attorneys Can Help

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you may be left with physical, emotional, and financial burdens to bear. However, you are not alone.

At Zinda Law Group, our Tucson injury lawyers have helped thousands of injury victims recover compensation for such damages as medical bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much more.

We will fight tirelessly to protect your legal rights and seek the maximum recovery you are entitled to under the law. And as one of our clients, you will pay nothing until we achieve a favorable settlement, judgment, or verdict for your case.

Call Zinda Law Group today at (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation with one of our Tucson personal injury lawyers. Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.