What Insurance Companies Look for When Settling Your Claim

When you are looking to settle a claim with an insurance company, there are a few things that you should know. The insurance adjuster handling your claim will want to gather as much information as they can to help the process. They want to get it done quickly and for as little money as humanly possible. Initially, they will usually offer you a low-ball settlement. Don’t be fooled: They will often go much higher than their original offer. Below is how the insurance company goes about investigating and settling your claim.

Investigation

The insurance company adjuster working on your case will begin by investigating your claim. They will gather statements from you and all those involved including any police records available and other written accounts of the incident at hand. They will gather information about prior claims you’ve made. They will find out information about your job, your earnings, your medical history related to the incident as well as before the incident, and any other personal information that is publicly available.

Analysis

Once the adjuster has gathered as much information as they can, they will review it all to come up with a settlement price that they deem fair. While valuing your claim, the insurance adjuster will take into account items like medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses that occurred as a result of the injury in question. They will also take into account the likelihood of a plaintiff’s success in trial. With cases where success is not likely, they will be inclined to offer lower settlements.

They will take into consideration the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries, as well as intangible elements of the case. For example, if the story surrounding the injury in question is likely to sway the jury to the side of the plaintiff, the insurance company’s case becomes much weaker. They will be extremely meticulous during the analysis, using every piece of information they can to their advantage.

Offer

Once the analysis is complete and a dollar amount has been decided, the insurance company will present their offer to you. Initial settlement offers are generally far less than what is fair. It is always a good idea to have a personal injury lawyer in your corner to help you understand the fairness of settlement offers and how to move forward if the settlement in question is undervalued.

If you need a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney to help deal with an insurance claim, Contact Shea Law Group Today!