Car Insurance Claims Adjuster Delays

Most people suffering injuries from a Michigan car accident call their auto insurance company to find out what to do next.  They rely on good faith and assume that when they follow the process, they will receive fair, timely compensation for injuries resulting from the auto accident.  After all, they paid for the auto insurance for that reason – to be covered in the event of Michigan car accident.

Over time, it becomes clear that most large auto insurance companies do not engage in good faith practices and employ delay tactics that easily push claims beyond the one year statute of limitations.   Unfortunately, injured victims can be overwhelmed adjusting to how the car accident has impaired their life. They don’t realize that in Michigan it is truly a race against time in order to have a successful case.   

Common delay tactics include having claims denied, not getting calls returned, being placed on hold extensively, being required to gather records – repeatedly, and being passed from one adjuster to the next.   Soon the financial burden of time off work and mounting medical bills drives good innocent victims to contact an attorney.   Or worse, it makes them desperate enough to accept an extremely low settlement offer, limiting any future recovery of damages.

CNN recently published their 18 month investigation of Allstate and State Farm, sharing inside information that portrays exactly how large insurance companies avoid payment of auto accident claims.  The strategy, according to former Allstate and State Farm employee, relies on the three Ds: delay, deny and defend.  They delay handling the claim, deny you were hurt and defend their decision in drawn-out court battles.

Read “Insurance companies fight paying billions in claims”, a CNN Blog posting by Correspondent Drew Griffin, for real examples of what to avoid – and why it’s in your best interest to contact a Michigan auto accident attorney with the resources to protect your interests.