Last Updated: 2/22/2024

Insurance companies are some of the richest and most powerful corporations in the United States.  Each year they donate millions of dollars to politicians in an attempt to reduce the rights and compensation to hardworking Iowans so they can make more profit.  However, what they don't control are the judges and juries that ultimately decide the amount of compensation if you have been hurt at work, in a car accident or another personal injury accident.  Our experience is that there are lots of things that the insurance company does not want you to know, but here is a list of the top 5 things:

5 Things Insurance Companys Don't Want You To Know

1. The Insurance Company is legally allowed to lie and cheat you: There is no law that the insurance company for the other side is required to tell you the truth or do anything that is in your best interests.  This is why sometimes the insurance adjustor will act like they are your friend and try to build trust with you.  We call this the "Mr. Nice Guy" or "Mrs. Nice Lady" routine which is common especially if your injuries are serious.  It is a very bad idea to trust an insurance adjustor because their job is to pay you as little money as possible.  They are not required to treat you fair and in fact, will likely receive promotions and bonuses if they build up a track record of paying less than cases are worth.  They are not going to tell you what your rights are, the best way for you to proceed with your claim or anything else that is going to help you.  It is the cold hard truth is that you cannot trust anything the insurance company for the other side tells you.  They are not looking out for your best interests and will take advantage of you every chance they get.  If you are not ready to call or hire an attorney in your case, then you should at least request a copy of Iowa Injury book.  www.IowaInjuryBook.com.  We offer the book at no cost or risk because we have seen firsthand far too many Iowans taken advantage of by insurance adjusters telling them one thing and doing another.  We have had to tell injured Iowans that they lost their entire case because they believed what the insurance adjustor told them and did not protect themselves. 

 

2. You do not have to give them a recorded statement: Yes, the insurance adjuster will tell you they have to have a recorded statement to evaluate your claim.  (See 1. above).  In reality, you have no obligation to give the insurance company for the other side a recorded statement.  The reason they want a recorded statement is so they can ask you questions in such a way that later on they can use your answers against you.  For example, they may ask you "have you ever had back pain before?"  Your initial answer without thinking about the question may be "no".  Well, if you treated with a chiropractor before, your medical records show you had back pain 10 years ago, etc., then you may have significantly damaged your case because later on the insurance company lawyer will make you look like you were lying and trying to cover up prior problems.  Your credibility is very important in any injury case which is why the insurance adjuster will try to damage it right away.  In workers' compensation cases you are encouraged to give a non-recorded statement if the claim is still being investigated, but you should consult with a qualified injury attorney before doing so because what you tell the insurance adjuster could still later be used against you. 

 

3. There "Final Offer" is Usually Not There "Best Offer": Often during negotiations, the insurance company will tell you, this is our final offer.  Our experience is that most of the time it really is not their best offer.  What do you have to lose by making another proposal to settle your case?  It is highly unlikely that they will say, "well we are not going to offer you anything now."  Sometimes, you may have to file a lawsuit and go through the process to really get their best offer. 

 

4. They will Intentionally Frustrate You:  This is a tactic that insurance adjusters will sometimes use when the "Mr/Mrs. Nice Person" routine does not work.  The insurance adjuster knows that making a very low initial offer may make you angry and frustrate you.  Also, they know that a certain percentage of people will take a low-ball offer just so they don't have to deal with the insurance adjustor anymore.  In their minds, if they make you frustrated, they have won because often people will just settle in order to avoid further time being spent on the issue.  Don't let them win this game.  If you have sustained a serious injury that may have lifelong effects upon your health, then you should consider turning things over to an experienced and qualified injury attorney.  Injury attorneys deal with insurance adjuster every day and know how to deal with their tactics and tricks.  If you hire an attorney, then your attorney will deal with the insurance company on your behalf so you can relax and focus on your healing.  Your attorney will not let the insurance company take advantage of you just because you are new to the injury process. 

 

5. In a personal injury case they will not pay your medical bills as you incur them: Yes, often times the insurance adjuster will tell you to send your medical bills to them.  However, this does not mean that they will actually pay them.  This is a strategy that they use to try to get you to settle your case for cheap later on when you start getting collection calls from creditors, hospitals and your doctors.  In car accident and personal injury cases, it is best to have your medical bills paid by your health insurance and/or medical payments coverage under your car insurance policy.  Otherwise, it could be years before your case against the other side is resolved, your credit rating may be damaged and in the long run you could be left holding the bill.  If would like to learn more about how your medical bills should be handled following a car accident or other personal injury accident, then you should request a copy of our Iowa Injury book that devotes an entire chapter to this subject.  www.IowaInjuryBook.com. It is available at no cost or risk to you so you can avoid costly mistakes. 

Corey Walker
Connect with me
With over 28 years legal experience, Corey has been recognized for his work as an injury attorney.