Insurance Companies and Car Accidents
Injured in a crash? Put your trust in a San Antonio car accident lawyer.
Insurance companies want you to believe they’re looking out for your best interests after you’ve been injured in a car accident. They want you to think they’re working tirelessly to make sure you receive the compensation you need and deserve. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. When that happens, a car accident lawyer from our San Antonio law firm can help you make things right. If you’ve been injured in a crash, let our legal team deal with the insurance company on your behalf. The experienced car accident attorneys from the Herrera Law Firm can get you the compensation you’re entitled to. Contact us today for a free consultation.
In many cases, insurance companies only care about one thing – paying accident victims as little as possible. That’s why they do everything they can to reduce or deny accident claims.
1800 W. Commerce St.
San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: (210) 224-1054
Some adjusters and attorneys for insurance companies will work hard to keep payments to an absolute minimum. They will dispute claims and take questionable actions to prevent accident victims from recovering all their damages. They may even fail to honor certain legal obligations, which may give rise to a bad faith insurance claim.
If you were injured in a car accident, you need to take aggressive action to make sure you don’t get taken advantage of by an insurance company. The car accident lawyers from the Herrera Law Firm know how to protect your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Understand your rights. Contact a car accident attorney before speaking to the insurance company
Your own car insurance company and the insurer of the person who caused your accident will seek information for different reasons. Before talking with an insurance adjuster or investigator, contact an attorney from the Herrera Law Firm. Even if the other driver clearly caused your crash, don’t say a word to them before talking to us.
If you give an insurance company a recorded statement, your statement could be used as evidence if a lawsuit is filed later. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions in a way that is favorable to them. Don’t fall for their tricks.
Our car accident lawyers can help you navigate the complicated legal minefield accident victims often encounter after a crash. We know how to negotiate with insurance companies. If they refuse to cooperate, we’re prepared to file a lawsuit against them and take them to court. Best of all, you don’t pay us any attorney fees unless we recover compensation in your case.
If your insurance includes uninsured or underinsured benefits, you can get paid by your own insurance carrier. Uninsured or underinsured benefits may cover damages caused by a hit-and-run driver, or by a driver who has some insurance, but not enough to cover the full cost of your accident.
Other legal options also exist. We can explain all of them to you. Our experienced San Antonio car accident attorneys thoroughly understand the legal system in Texas and how it related to accidents involving uninsured drivers. If there’s any avenue to get you the compensation you deserve, we will not rest until we find a way to win your case.
“Bad faith” is a term used when an insurance company doesn’t honor its obligations. When you have a legitimate car accident claim, it’s illegal for the insurance company to willingly not pay, deny or delay your claim.
Bad faith insurance cases arise from disputes between you and your own insurance company. In Texas and throughout the U.S., insurance companies must handle claims with a reasonable degree of efficiency and ethical conduct when working with people who have suffered personal injury or property loss.
Unfortunately, not all insurance companies treat people this way. Some insurance companies act in bad faith, especially when it comes to compensating car accident victims. That’s why it’s critical that you contact our law firm as soon as possible. We know how to hold insurance companies responsible and make them compensate you what they owe.
Insurance companies often start with a lowball settlement offer that doesn’t come close to covering all of your medical bills, lost income, and future needs. They know you are stressed, worried about money, and may be tempted to take quick cash just to move on. Red flags include an offer that comes very soon after the crash, pressure to “sign today,” and an adjuster who downplays your injuries or ignores the need for future treatment. Once you accept and sign a release, you usually can’t go back for more money, even if your condition worsens. Before agreeing to anything, talk to a San Antonio car accident lawyer who can calculate the real value of your claim and negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf.
Why Insurance Companies Deny Claims
Insurance companies deny car accident claims for many reasons, some legitimate and others more questionable. Common justifications include arguing that their policyholder was not at fault, saying there is not enough evidence, claiming your policy lapsed, or asserting that certain injuries or treatments are not covered. They may also rely on technicalities in policy language or suggest you were partly or mostly responsible to reduce what they owe.
In more serious situations, an insurance company may cross the line into “bad faith” by unreasonably delaying, underpaying, or denying a valid claim without a proper investigation. When this happens with your own insurance company, you may have a separate bad faith claim in addition to your underlying accident case. Our San Antonio car accident attorneys can review the denial letter, your policy, and the evidence to determine whether the insurance company’s reasons hold up or need to be challenged.
What to Do if Your Claim Is Denied
A denied claim is not necessarily the end of the road. The first step is to carefully read the denial letter to understand the specific reason given and any deadlines for appealing. Next, gather and organize supporting documents such as the police report, medical records, bills, photographs, witness statements, and any correspondence with the insurance company.
With that information, our lawyers can draft a written appeal that explains why the denial is wrong and how your evidence supports coverage and payment. Many insurance companies have an internal appeal process you must go through before considering a formal complaint or lawsuit. If the company still refuses to act reasonably, your attorney can help you file a complaint with the appropriate state insurance department and, if needed, pursue a lawsuit for the benefits you are owed and potentially bad faith damages.
Do You Need to Give the Insurance Company a Recorded Statement?
After a crash, insurance adjusters often ask for a recorded statement. Sometimes they make it sound like you “have” to do it right away. In most situations, you’re not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company, and doing so without legal advice can hurt your claim if your words are taken out of context. With your own insurance provider, your policy may require some level of cooperation, but that doesn’t mean you must immediately agree to a recorded interview before speaking with a lawyer.
Do You Need to Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?
It’s usually better to provide only basic facts at the scene and then let a car accident attorney handle detailed communications, especially when fault or injuries are disputed. You also don’t have to chat casually with the other driver’s insurance adjuster about your pain, prior medical issues, or how you think the crash happened; those conversations are designed to limit what they pay you.
Other Tips for Dealing with Insurance Companies
A few extra protections can go a long way. Avoid posting about your car accident or injuries on social media, because insurance companies may monitor your accounts and try to use photos or comments against you. Keep a simple file with your claim number, letters from the insurance company, medical records, bills, and notes about phone calls so you have everything in one place if there is a dispute. Don’t stop medical treatment just because an adjuster suggests you are “better” or questions your care. Follow your doctor’s advice instead. If you’re facing a lowball offer, confusing paperwork, or a denied claim, contact the Herrera Law Firm as early as possible to level the playing field. We offer free consultations and work on contingency, so you don’t have to pay upfront.
