When car accident victims in California seek compensation, they usually deal with an insurance company rather than the reckless motorists who injured them. This places them in a difficult position because insurance claims adjusters are usually experienced professionals who are tasked with settling car accident claims for as little as possible. Car accident victims, on the other hand, rarely have experience negotiating financial settlements, and they often enter these crucial discussions while still recovering from painful injures.
California is an at-fault state
In states with no-fault insurance laws, accident victims file claims with their own insurance companies even if they were not to blame. California is an at-fault state, which means accident victims must deal with the negligent party’s insurance company. The early stages of these negotiations may focus on allocating blame rather than determining fair compensation, which is why drivers in the Golden State should be very careful about what they say to other motorists, witnesses and first responders at motor vehicle accident scenes.
Insurance company negotiating tactics
Insurance claims adjusters know that car accident victims usually want to wrap up negotiations as quickly as possible, so they often make low initial offers to take advantage of their eagerness to settle. When car accident victims refuse to settle for less than fair compensation, insurance companies may use delaying tactics to drag the process out. Common insurance company negotiating tactics include taking days to respond to phone calls or emails and asking for documents that could be difficult to obtain.
Accident victims at a disadvantage
Car accident victims in California are usually at a disadvantage when they seek compensation because the insurance companies they negotiate with hire experienced and skilled professionals to settle claims for as little as possible. California is also an at-fault state, which means accident victims must negotiate with insurance companies that have little incentive to settle claims fairly.
