How a Lawyer Helps You Beat the Insurance Company
Dealing with an insurance company after an accident or injury can be frustrating because their goal is to pay you as little as possible. Your lawyer's goal? To get you what you truly deserve.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- How insurance companies operate
- The tactics they use to lower your payout
- How legal representation changes everything
- Why hiring a lawyer increases settlement values
- How lawyers make the process easier for you
Let’s break it down.
Insurance Companies Want to Protect Their Profits
Insurance companies are in business to make money. Every dollar they pay you is a dollar off their profit. Here’s what they don’t want you to know:
- Adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you.
- Their job is to settle claims for the least amount possible.
- Many are trained to pressure or mislead you into quick settlements.
Lawyers know these tactics. They fight to make sure you get fair treatment because insurance may not tell you all the rights and compensation you’re entitled to unless forced.
Lawyers Help You Get More Money
Most people don’t know the true value of their claim. That’s where a lawyer comes in.
Here’s what the numbers say:
- People who suffered physical injuries and hired a lawyer averaged around $25,000 - $30,000 in compensation. (Sources: Martindale-Nolo Research, Insurance Information Institute)
- Those who don’t often average significantly less, usually around $5,000.
- That’s more than 5 times the payout.
With time to investigate and negotiate, your attorney will consider medical costs (both current and future), lost wages and loss of earning ability, as well as pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Insurance companies want to settle fast; they don’t care about your long-term health or financial needs.
Insurance Company Tactics That Hurt You
Insurance adjusters use many strategies to lower your payout.
1. Discouraging You From Getting Legal Help
They might say: "Lawyers slow things down” or "You’ll walk away with less".
The truth is they say this because they know lawyers get higher payouts.
2. Acting Like Your Friend
Adjusters may sound helpful or concerned. But they are not on your side.
Your lawyer? 100% on your team.
3. Delaying the Process
Delays can make you desperate or apathetic, which runs the risk of going past the statute of limitations.
A lawyer keeps things moving. They know how to apply pressure.
4. Asking for Recorded Statements
A recorded statement sounds harmless, but adjusters often use your words against you. They’re listening for contradictions, uncertainty, and admissions of mistakes.
Having a lawyer who handles all communication means no accidental slip-ups.
5. Making a Lowball Offer
The first offer from the insurance company is usually way too low. They hope you accept before you know the full value of your injury claim.
Lawyers reject bad offers and push for one that is based on facts and fairness.
6. Blaming You for the Accident
The insurance company may suggest you caused the accident, that your injuries already existed, or that you’re exaggerating your pain or faking it.
Your lawyer gathers expert opinions and evidence to prove otherwise.
7. Spying on You
Yes, it happens. They might monitor your social media or hire private investigators to follow you.
Lawyers help remind you to be careful what you say online and how to protect your privacy.
8. Claiming Less Coverage Exists
The adjuster may say there’s not enough coverage or no coverage at all.
Lawyers know how to read the fine print. They uncover the truth.
How a Lawyer Simplifies Everything for You
Dealing with a claim can be overwhelming. There’s paperwork, deadlines, and complicated laws. A lawyer handles all of that. Here’s how they help:
- They manage the entire process, dealing with the insurance company and keeping your case on schedule.
- They meet all legal deadlines and handle all forms and files necessary.
- They preserve evidence by gathering witness statements and securing videos, photos, and damage reports.
- They help you find medical care (even if you don’t have health insurance) and delay medical bill payments until the case settles.
- They prepare for court if a case does not settle and know how to operate the system.
What to Do Next
Don’t wait. The sooner a lawyer gets involved, the stronger your case. Here’s what you should do now:
- Avoid giving recorded statements.
- Don’t sign anything without review.
- Limit what you post on social media.
- Call a lawyer for a free consultation.
With more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements recovered, the team at Gary Martin Hays & Associates has a track record of compassion and maximum settlements for injured victims and their families throughout Georgia and the Southeast.
You Don’t Have to Face This Alone — Let the Experts Fight for You
Level the playing field. Don’t go it alone. Call Gary Martin Hays right now at (770) 934-8000.
