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Summary
- Insurance adjusters contact victims immediately after a crash to record statements before injuries and legal rights are fully understood, then use those statements to reduce settlements.
- Delays in medical treatment or missed appointments are used to argue that injuries are minor or unrelated, especially in whiplash and back-injury claims.
- Early settlement offers are intentionally low and exclude future medical expenses, lost income, and long-term pain and suffering.
- Claim delays are used to create financial pressure, pushing accident victims to accept less than their claim’s true value.
- Under Texas comparative fault rules, adjusters often shift partial blame onto victims to significantly reduce final compensation.
After getting into a car accident, you’re probably dealing with a lot of physical pain, worry about bills, and time off work. The last thing you need is someone playing games with your claim. But here’s what most people don’t realize until it’s too late: the insurance adjuster who calls you isn’t there to help. They work for the insurance company, and their job is to pay you as little as possible.
If you’re in Fort Worth or Dallas, understanding how insurance adjusters operate could be the difference between getting what you deserve and walking away with pennies on the dollar. Let me walk you through what really happens behind the scenes.
Who Insurance Adjusters Actually Work For
Let’s be clear about something right from the start: insurance adjusters aren’t neutral third parties. They’re employees of the insurance company, and their performance reviews depend on how much money they save their employer. Think about that. The better they are at paying you less, the better they look to their boss.
In busy areas like Dallas-Fort Worth, these adjusters are handling dozens of car accident claims every week. Your serious injury? It’s just another file on their desk with a number they’re trying to shrink. They’ve got formulas, scripts, and tactics they use on everyone. And if you don’t know what you’re up against, you’re going to lose.
That Early Phone Call Isn’t What You Think It Is
Ever notice how fast they call? Sometimes it’s the same day as your accident. You’re still shaken up, maybe in pain, definitely stressed, and they want to get your statement.
Here’s what’s really going on: they’re trying to lock you into a story before you fully understand your injuries or your rights.
One of their favorite tricks is asking for a recorded statement. They’ll make it sound routine, like filling out a form. But every word you say is being cataloged and analyzed for ways to reduce your car accident settlement. Said you felt okay right after the crash because you were in shock? They’ll use that to claim you weren’t really hurt.
I’ve watched people lose thousands of dollars because of a five-minute conversation they thought was harmless. Don’t do it. You’re under no legal obligation to give them anything, especially not a recorded statement, until you’re ready.
The Medical Games They Love to Play
This is where it gets really frustrating. You see a doctor, get diagnosed, start treatment, and then some insurance company employee who’s never examined you decides your doctor is wrong.
Insurance companies love to attack soft tissue injuries. Whiplash? Oh, that’s minor. Back pain? Probably unrelated to the accident. Doesn’t matter that your doctor is recommending months of physical therapy. Some desk adjuster halfway across Texas suddenly knows better than your treating physician.
They’ll even hire their own “independent” medical reviewers. And wouldn’t you know it, these reviewers almost always conclude that your injuries aren’t that serious. Funny how that works, right?
This happens constantly in Fort Worth car accident cases. They’re counting on you not knowing that soft tissue injuries can lead to chronic pain and long-term complications if not properly treated.
Common delay tactics include:
– Requesting the same documents over and over
– Taking weeks to respond to phone calls or emails
– Claiming they need more time to investigate.
– Transferring your case between different adjusters
Meanwhile, your bills are piling up. Rent is due. You’re missing work. The pressure builds and builds until you’re desperate enough to accept whatever lowball offer they throw at you.
The insurance claim process in Texas has deadlines they’re supposed to follow, but many companies push those limits as far as they can. And they’re betting you don’t know your rights well enough to push back.
The Generous Quick Settlement Trick
On the flip side, sometimes they’ll come at you fast with a settlement offer. When you’re drowning in medical bills, a check for $5,000 or $10,000 sounds pretty good, right?
Wrong.
These early offers are calculated before anyone knows the full extent of your injuries. They’re banking on you being desperate and uninformed. You cash that check, sign the release, and boom, you’re done. Forever.
Even if you need surgery next month. Even if you can’t work for the next year. Even if your pain gets worse instead of better, that’s your problem now, not theirs.
This is a massive issue in Dallas car accident settlement negotiations. People take quick money without realizing they’re signing away their right to future compensation. Once you sign, there’s no going back.
Making It Partly Your Fault
Texas has what’s called modified comparative negligence. Basically, if you’re found partially at fault for the accident, your compensation gets reduced by that percentage. And guess what? Insurance adjusters will try everything to pin some blame on you.
- Were you looking at your phone?
- How fast were you going?
- Why didn’t you brake sooner?
Even if you did absolutely nothing wrong, they’ll search for some reason to say you’re 10%, 20%, or 30% responsible. That percentage comes straight out of your settlement. If your case is worth $100,000 and they successfully argue you were 20% at fault, you just lost $20,000.
Every Gap in Treatment Gets Used Against You
Couldn’t make it to physical therapy one week because you had to work? Waited a few days to see a doctor because you thought you’d feel better? Insurance adjusters will comb through your medical records looking for ammunition.
They’ll say, See? If they were really hurt, they wouldn’t have missed appointments. Never mind that you’re a real person with real responsibilities. Never mind that some injuries don’t show symptoms right away.
This is particularly common when dealing with car accident injuries that develop gradually. The medical community understands delayed symptoms, but insurance companies pretend they don’t.
The Policy Limit Excuse
Look, I’d love to give you more, but the policy limits are only $25,000. That’s all there is.
Maybe that’s true. But maybe it’s not. Maybe there are other insurance policies involved. Maybe there are multiple responsible parties. Maybe there’s underinsured motorist coverage you don’t know about.
Insurance companies aren’t in the business of volunteering information that costs them money. If you don’t know the right questions to ask, they’re certainly not going to help you out.
What Your Claim Is Actually Worth
Here’s what a lot of people don’t realize: a fair car accident claim includes way more than just your current medical bills.
Compensation should account for:
– Future medical treatment you’ll need
– Wages you’ve already lost
– Lost earning capacity if you can’t work the same way anymore
– Pain and suffering (yes, that’s real and quantifiable)
– Emotional distress and reduced quality of life
But insurance companies have formulas that purposely leave most of this stuff out. They add up your hospital bills, maybe throw in a little for time off work, and call it a day. The rest? They’re hoping you don’t know it exists.
A good car accident lawyer will:
– Handle all communication with the insurance company
– Investigate your accident thoroughly
– Calculate the true value of your claim
– Negotiate from a position of strength
– Take your case to trial if necessary
Francis Injury and other experienced firms understand how the game is played. They know what your case is worth, and they know how to fight for it.
What Happens Next Is Up to You
Here’s the bottom line: if an insurance adjuster is giving you the runaround, offering you less than your claim is worth, or using any of the tactics I’ve described here, you’re not getting a fair shake.
You’ve already been through enough with the accident itself. You shouldn’t have to fight tooth and nail just to get the compensation you’re legally entitled to. But that’s exactly what the insurance company is counting on, that you’ll be too tired, too stressed, or too uninformed to fight back.
The team at Francis Injury has spent years helping people in Fort Worth and Dallas stand up to insurance companies. We know how they operate, we know what your case is worth, and we know how to fight for it.
Take the First Step Today
If an insurance adjuster is trying to lowball your car accident claim or stalling without explanation, now is the time to act. Just talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can make a huge difference.
The consultation is free. The advice is honest. And you’ll finally have someone in your corner who’s actually on your side.
Don’t let an insurance company decide what your injuries are worth. Don’t let them pressure you into accepting less than you deserve. And don’t try to fight this battle alone when you don’t have to.
Call 817-329-9001 today for a free consultation and take the first step toward securing the compensation you truly deserve.
