They're Not on Your Side — Ever
Let me be blunt. The insurance adjuster who calls you after your accident is not your friend. They are a trained professional whose entire job is to pay you as little as possible. They have quotas. They have scripts. They've been to seminars on how to get you to settle cheap. I know this because I've deposed dozens of them under oath, and they've told me exactly how the system works. Every nice word, every 'I understand what you're going through' — it's calculated.
The Lowball Offer — Their Favorite Move
Here's how it works. You get hurt. Bills start piling up. You're stressed, you're in pain, you can't work. Then the insurance company calls and offers you $15,000. Sounds like a lot when you're desperate, right? But your case is worth $85,000. They know that. They're counting on you not knowing it. I had a client last year — rear-end collision on I-15 — who was offered $12,000 by GEICO. We took the case. We settled for $185,000. That's not unusual. That's what happens when you have someone fighting for you.
The Recorded Statement Trap
Every insurance company will ask you for a recorded statement. They'll tell you it's 'routine' or 'required to process your claim.' It's not required. It's a trap. They ask leading questions: 'Were you feeling okay before the accident?' 'Did you have any prior back pain?' Then they use your answers — taken out of context — to argue your injuries were pre-existing. I tell every single client: do not give a recorded statement. Ever. Give them my number instead.
The Delay Game
Time is money — and insurance companies know it. They delay your claim for weeks, sometimes months, hoping the financial pressure will force you to accept a lowball settlement. They 'lose' paperwork. They need 'additional review.' They're 'waiting for authorization.' Meanwhile, your rent is due, your car payment is due, and you can't work. This is by design. An attorney puts a stop to this immediately by imposing legal deadlines and threatening bad faith claims under Utah Administrative Rule R590-190.
What I Do About It
After 28 years, I know their playbook better than they do. We document everything aggressively — medical records, expert opinions, accident reconstruction when needed. We calculate the true value of your claim using industry-standard methodology. Then we send a demand package that makes it very clear: pay fair value, or we'll see you in court. And we mean it. Our 98% success rate isn't because we're lucky. It's because insurance companies know we don't bluff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I accept the insurance company's first offer?
Almost never. In my experience, first offers are typically 20-40% of what the case is actually worth. They're testing you to see if you'll take the easy money. Don't. Call us for a free evaluation first.
Can I handle my own insurance claim without a lawyer?
You can — but studies show that injury victims with attorneys recover 3-4x more than those who negotiate alone, even after attorney fees. Insurance companies know they can lowball unrepresented claimants.
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