More than one million insurance claims are filed annually in the United States for everything from auto accidents to hospital stays to slips and falls. While the circumstances that give rise to these claims vary significantly from one situation to the next, they share one important element: the involvement of insurance companies.
Filing an insurance claim may be the most expedient way to obtain compensation for your losses after a slip and fall accident at a store, sporting venue, or other property. However, there’s no guarantee that your claim will be paid.
Whether you receive compensation or not will depend partly on how you interact with the insurance company during the claims process.
6 Tips for Successfully Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Slip and Fall Accident
Regardless of whether you file a claim with your own insurer or the property owner after a slip and fall accident, there are several key points worth remembering. While the following tips won’t necessarily ensure that your claim will be paid quickly, they can make the process smoother and less stressful.
1. Don’t Ignore the Insurance Company
When you submit a claim, the at-fault party’s insurance company will contact you several times before resolving it. Some of these communications will be to advise you of your claim’s status, while others will be to obtain information about the accident.
No matter their purpose, these interactions can be stressful and intrusive. However, ignoring the insurance company and refusing to respond to their calls, notices, or requests will only delay the resolution of your claim.
Cutting off all communication will likely lead the company to conclude that you’ve abandoned your claim. Fortunately, there are ways to handle frustrating insurance company interactions, such as by retaining an attorney to speak on your behalf.
2. Don’t Lie to Insurance Adjusters
Don’t intentionally make false statements to the insurance company’s representatives. This includes statements about how the slip and fall accident happened and the extent of your resulting injuries. Avoid the temptation to answer difficult questions with lies or give the insurance adjuster a false impression by deliberately omitting essential facts.
It’s equally important to avoid guessing at details you aren’t sure of. For example, if you’re unsure whether the store where your accident occurred placed a warning sign near the spill that caused it, the best answer you can give is, “I don’t know.”
Deliberately misleading insurance adjusters as they evaluate your claim won’t just lead them to deny it. It could also result in you being charged with insurance fraud and facing civil and criminal consequences. If the company has already paid your claim, you might face legal action to recover the amount you were given.
3. Be Mindful of Applicable Deadlines
You have two years from the date of your accident to file your insurance claim. However, there are also other deadlines worth paying attention to.
If the insurance company asks for more information, you may have a limited time to provide it. If your claim is denied, you must exercise your appeal rights within a specific time frame.
Exceeding these deadlines can negatively impact your legal rights, including your right to receive compensation. Make it a point to read all documents carefully and take note of any deadlines mentioned in them. It’s also wise to retain a qualified slip and fall lawyer to manage your claim and ensure that you meet all relevant deadlines.
4. Watch What You Say
The at-fault party’s insurance company will likely ask you to give a recorded statement about how the slip and fall occurred. When this happens, be careful about how you respond. Admitting that you weren’t paying attention or otherwise contributed to your injuries could be grounds for reducing or denying your claim.
While you shouldn’t lie, there are ways to convey truthful information without jeopardizing your claim. First, keep in mind that you’re not legally required to give a formal statement. If you decide to, an experienced personal injury lawyer can offer guidance on how to best answer the adjuster’s questions.
5. Don’t Give the Insurance Company Everything It Asks For
Responding to an insurance company’s requests for information doesn’t necessarily mean giving adjusters all the information they seek. For example, the property owner’s insurer may ask for your full medical history to scrutinize it for evidence of a preexisting condition and reduce the amount of compensation it’s forced to pay you.
You have the right to object to any requests for information that seem irrelevant or unduly burdensome. Your attorney can help you evaluate each request you receive from the insurance company and decide how to address them appropriately.
6. Don’t Make the Mistake of Thinking the Insurance Company Is Your Friend
Finally, be careful about getting too comfortable with the insurance adjuster or representative you’re in contact with. Doing so can cause you to let your guard down and forget the important points mentioned here. Remember, insurance companies are businesses that exist to make money, and they don’t do that by paying out claims to injured individuals.
By keeping this fact in mind, you’ll be in a better position to evaluate settlement offers and interact with the insurance company in a way that protects your interests.
Seek Help from a Personal Injury Lawyer When Speaking With Insurers
Negotiating a fair resolution to your slip and fall claim can be stressful, especially while you’re recovering from injuries. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it by yourself. A skilled slip and fall lawyer can handle all aspects of your injury claim, including communicating with insurers on your behalf.
Schrier Law Group is ready to assist you in pursuing fair and adequate compensation through an insurance claim.
With years of experience representing clients harmed by other people’s negligence, our attorneys aren’t afraid to fight for what’s right. With one of our capable legal professionals on your side, you can focus on getting well and leave the difficult work of pursuing compensation to us.
Contact our team today to request a consultation with one of our compassionate Florida slip and fall lawyers.
