Making an insurance claim can be long and tedious, and it is often a difficult process to navigate through on your own. If you are about to make an insurance claim, read on to find out more about the secrets insurance companies don’t want you to know.
You should consult a compensation lawyer
Compensation lawyers are qualified professionals who are constantly dealing with the insurance claims process. It is worth speaking to a compensation lawyer if you are considering making a claim as the process can be highly complex and hard to comply with for those inexperienced in this area. Compensation lawyers can also help to negotiate with an insurance company directly on your behalf, and help to pursue legal action where necessary. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to offer claimants as a quick settlement in the hopes they will not realise the full extent of their damages – however, compensation lawyers will advise when a settlement offer is fair or whether you should be receiving a greater amount.
You should be honest
Lying to your insurance provider about certain details can prove to be a costly mistake and can result in you receiving a fine, a refusal of your claims or even serious legal action against you.
If you have lied about your history, and the insurance company would not have insured you had they known the truth about you in the first place, then they may be entitled to deny any claims you make against them. You should always bear in mind that insurers share information about their clients and their history of claims over insurance databases. It is common for them to consult these databases to validate the information you have provided, so you should not aim to hide any information or past claims in order to make any saving in premiums.
Insurance companies also have many mechanisms of determining the true story of events in regards to an insurance claim, including contacting witnesses or accessing surveillance footage. If your story does not add up, there is a chance that the insurance company will catch you out.
You should seek medical help after your injury
It is important to ensure that any injuries sustained from the incident are assessed by a medical practitioner – even in circumstances where you feel as though you have not suffered any harm. This is critical as sometimes injuries can take time to appear and seeking medical attention will help to determine if any future medical treatment or ongoing care is required. Evidence of medical records and receipts also help to build a compelling case against the insurance company, and are required should the injured party wish to claim compensation from them.
You should never speculate about the incident
You should never feel the need to speculate about things you are unsure of. Your insurance company may ask you questions that you might not know the answer to (such as ‘how much compensation you think you are entitled to?’) and in such a case, you should simply state that you do not know instead of offering speculative answers. You should always remember that any responses you give to the insurance company will be recorded and may be used against you in the future.
You should be aware of the strict time limits
All insurance claims are subject to strict time limits, and these time limits can differ depending on the type of accident or insurance policy you hold. For example, if you have been involved in a car accident, you may have between six months to three years to make a claim for your injuries. To ensure that you have not lost the chance to receive compensation, you should endeavour to lodge a claim as soon as you can. It is best you speak to a compensation lawyer as soon as possible as they are aware of any time limits that need to be adhered to, and can help to ensure you don’t miss out on making the right type of claim for your case.
For more information about making a personal injury claim, get in touch with Schreuders today.