Recent statistics published on Statista reveal that the insurance market in the United States is one of the biggest in the world. Included in the statistics are the Georgia car accident cases.
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Insurance premiums are the amount a pay holder agrees to pay for insurance coverage, and in the United States, the insurance premiums are rising at a steady pace, amounting to 715.9 billion dollars for property and casualty premiums and 635.7 billion dollars for life and annuity premiums in 2022.
Despite this whooping sum, research shows that a lot of American consumers, including Georgia car accident victims get cheated out of their insurance claims based on factors like:
- Race
- Social class
- Ignorance of the nitty-gritty of their insurance contracts
- Not having the appropriate legal backing to pursue these claims
Usually, the goal of insurance agents and the company they represent is to ensure they pay as little as possible on insurance claims or even entirely cheat their victims out of their compensation, no matter how “friendly” or “neighborly” these agents seem at first.
In Marietta, Georgia, several laws are put in place to ensure car accident victims receive full compensation for things like their medical expenses, property damages, and lost income.
The victims of car accidents in Marietta can take advantage of law firms that know the intricacies of these laws to avoid being ripped off by these insurance companies.
Let's take a look at the tricks insurance companies use to hoodwink car accident victims with Georgia car accident victims and keep them from getting their insurance claims.
Offering To Settle Quickly
One of the quickest ways insurance companies can rip you off of your full compensation is by offering to settle quickly. When a car accident occurs, it is normal to feel devastated, disoriented, or even unconscious, depending on the degree of the accident.
Insurance companies might try to reach out to lull victims into a false sense of security and offer a settlement for damages. While this may seem great—like they're looking out for you—this move is usually made under the guise of offering the victims the lowest compensation for the damages incurred.
The reason they offer to settle quickly is so you don't have the time to properly consult an attorney and evaluate the true cost of your damages.
Asking For A Medical Release
Another way insurance companies trick car accident victims is to ask for a medical release. A medical release form is submitted to your healthcare provider to release full access to you or a third party, such as your employer or an insurance company.
Insurance agencies might demand that you sign a medical release form before they can process your insurance claims. Take note that some states in the U.S. do not have a law mandating you to sign a medical release form before your insurance claims will be processed.
The reason it's a terrible idea to sign a medical release to your insurance company is that the company might reach so far back into your medical records to find incriminating health evidence that might not even be related to your car accident, and it may be used to reduce or entirely deny your insurance claim.
Stalking Your Social Media
Yes, you read right. Insurance companies might stalk your social media accounts to look for evidence of your health status.
For example, if an individual claims loss of wages due to injury or medical expenses and that individual posts a picture update on social media within the timeframe of their recovery.
They might use this as evidence to claim they exaggerated their damages or injuries and thus pay them a lot less than they deserve.
Denying Your Claim Due To Delay
If you're going to file a claim, file it fast. Try not to speak to any insurance agents before you've had a chance to speak to an attorney.
It should be done as quickly as possible, within the time frame of the accident. Filing a claim weeks after your accident might lead to being cheated out of a fair settlement.
