CALL (888) 449-1160 TO SPEAK WITH A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER FOR FREE
If you have recently suffered an injury and have filed a claim with American Family Insurance (“AmFam”), you may ask yourself whether you will get the full value of your claim or whether American Family Insurance will even accept your claim in the first place. First, realize that American Family Insurance has been in the insurance business for nearly a century, and it has not remained in the insurance business this long because it pays in full every claim that it receives from victims.
If you or your loved one has suffered an injury and has filed a claim with American Family Insurance but is concerned about the settlement process, call Zinda Law Group at (888) 449-1160 for a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.
Negotiating an Injury Claim with American Family
Like in any negotiation, do not simply accept the first offer that is thrown at you. In the case of insurance companies, the first offer they give you will likely be much lower than the real value of your claim. Remember, insurance companies are businesses, and because they are businesses, they first and foremost operate to make a profit. Insurance companies would not be able to make a profit if they paid out in full every victim’s claim.
If the insurance company gives you an offer that is lower than what you asked for, do not then immediately retract and lower your original claim’s amount. By doing so, the insurance company has achieved a small victory by lowering the amount it will potentially have to pay you. Instead, ask the insurance adjuster why he or she has given you an offer that is lower than the amount you requested. Once the adjuster tells you the reasons, draft up a letter responding to those reasons, stating why those reasons are weak and why you actually deserve the amount that you initially requested. You may have a better chance of getting a settlement amount closer to your original request by haggling in this manner.
Document as Much as Possible
Whenever you get into an accident, you should document all the losses you have incurred because of your injury. By documenting your losses, you will have a solid foundation for the amount you seek in your claim. Therefore, be sure to collect all the receipts of medical expenses and the like. Also, if you have missed work because of your injury, you will want to document your paystubs in order to seek compensation for lost wages.
Also, after a personal injury accident, be sure to take photographs of the accident itself. For instance, if you got into a car wreck and are able, take photographs of the car crash and any injuries you received.
Determine a Minimum Settlement Amount
You never bring a knife to a gunfight. You also never go into a meeting with an insurance adjuster without a minimum settlement amount in mind. After all, how do you know whether the amount an insurance adjuster offers you is fair or unfair if you do not know how much your claim is worth. This is where documentation comes into play. By having proper documentation of the losses you have incurred because of your injury, you can figure out the minimum settlement amount you need.
For more information about how to calculate how much your settlement should be, view our Personal Injury Settlement Calculator.
Keep Your Story Straight
Most of us do not have a photographic memory. In most day-to-day situations, we do not need to be 100% accurate about something that has happened to us. However, in every encounter with an insurance adjuster, you want to stick to the same story when explaining what occurred in the accident. If you, for instance, tell the insurance adjuster that the other driver hit you because he was on his phone, but in a later encounter, you say that you do not remember whether he was on his phone or not, you may have potentially given the insurance adjuster a reason to lower the value of your claim. Therefore, be sure to write down a statement that details what occurred during the accident. Do not deviate from that statement when speaking with an insurance adjuster.
Get Help from Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers
With so much on your mind after getting into an accident, please do not struggle alone in dealing with an insurance company that will try to give you less than you deserve. We at Zinda Law Group have helped many victims with their insurance settlements and have the knowledge and experience to represent you.
Furthermore, we offer free consultations, and you will not owe us anything unless we achieve a favorable outcome for your case. If you or your loved one has filed a claim with American Family Insurance and are concerned about the settlement process, call Zinda Law Group at (888) 449-1160 for a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.
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