Sacramento Insurance Dispute Attorneys
Dealing with Giants

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How Can You Stand Up to Big Insurance?

To give ourselves the best chance, we'll start dealing with the insurance company even before we buy the policy. If we wait until a claim situation is full-blown, we'll be stubbing our toes on the hidden rocks waiting for us unwary policyholders in the complex insurance laws and pages of fine print.

Insurance companies dwarf us with all the advantages they have. Not only do they write our policies, but they also:

• Tell us what they mean
• Continually update them according to the latest court decisions
• Keep a stable of lawyers
• Have all the money
• Make the decisions on our claims

So we'd be wise to start early in equipping ourselves with things that will help us later on in whatever claim situation arises.

Start When You First Talk to An Insurance Agent

Agents are trained by their insurance companies, but not to super-high levels of detail. They know enough to talk the policy up and make it sound like gold, but not necessarily a whole lot about the fine print.

• From your first discussion with the agent, take notes. Date them, even write quotes down of what the agent says about your policy; certainly summarize it all. Keep any brochures or sales material the agent gives you. And consult an insurance attorney before you sign anything.
• Don't let yourself be swayed by advertising about the insurance company's policies because it may be misleading or deceptive. Any lawsuit you might later want to bring will have to be based on the text in your policy, rather than on any advertising text.
• Read your finished application before you sign it. Be sure all your answers are complete and accurate. Any variance from the truth here will give the insurance company an excuse to cancel your policy after you've submitted a claim.
• Insist on reading your policy before you buy it and make sure you understand it. Read all that fine print and get clear on exactly what it's covering, when and how, what it's limiting or excluding, and exactly what the deductibles are.
• Take photographs of your vehicle, home, RV, or whatever items you're insuring. If there's a fire or your home is burgled, and you then submit a claim, these "Before" pictures will help. Also note the serial numbers of appliances, computers, etc.

When You Submit A Claim

Don't delay, and do consult an insurance lawyer. An insurance lawyer will know what the Statute of Limitations is, and will give you guidance on how to speak to the adjuster from the company. You don't want to prejudice your chances of maximum compensation by saying anything that can be twisted and used against you.

Also read through your policy and initial notes before you speak to an adjuster.

• Don't volunteer any information.
• Take notes with the date and time, the adjuster's name and phone number, and anything he tells you. You might want this record later.
• Collect up materials that will support your claim, such as photos you took, user manuals that came with any appliances now lost or destroyed. If this will be an injury claim, take photos of your injuries. Keep all receipts.
• Don't accept the insurance company's evaluation of your loss without hiring your own expert to evaluate them. They'll almost certainly be different evaluations.
• Don't necessarily accept any sum of money the insurance company offers. Insurance companies make profits by investing. They prefer to keep all their cash invested where it brings interest for them. That's why they'll often try to buy you off with a quick payment of less than what you're entitled to.
  • Alternatively, the company might delay interminably, which is another way for them to keep their money invested and bringing in profits for them, for as long as possible.

Your Eventual Settlement

An experienced insurance attorney is wise to all these tricks and can steer you away from them, towards a higher eventual settlement, which will usually include:

• Compensation for your original loss;
• Compensation for the loss of use of the insurance proceeds (in cases where the company delayed outrageously);
• General damages;
• Attorneys' fees; and in cases of outrageous misconduct,
• Punitive damages.

Every Case Is Different

An experienced personal injury attorney or insurance attorney can assess the particular circumstances of your case and decide what sort of action will most likely gain you the appropriate and best possible redress.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

PLEASE CALL US TOLL- FREE AT 1-888-516-6262
OR CLICK HERE FOR A FREE CONFIDENTIAL CASE EVALUATION