After an accident, most people assume the insurance company will do the right thing. After all, that’s what insurance is for; right? Unfortunately, the reality is often very different. Insurance companies are businesses, and their financial interest lies in paying out as little as possible on every claim. Understanding the tactics they use can make a significant difference in the compensation you ultimately receive.
At Rogers Sevastianos & Bante LLP, our personal injury attorneys in St. Louis have seen these strategies used time and again against injured clients throughout Missouri. Here is what you need to know.
Why Insurance Companies Work Against You
When you file a personal injury claim, you are not dealing with a neighbor trying to make things right. You are dealing with a large corporation backed by experienced claims adjusters, legal teams, and decades of experience minimizing payouts. Their goal is not to fairly compensate you; it is to close your claim for as little money as possible.
That does not mean you are powerless. Knowing what to expect puts you in a far stronger position to protect your rights.
4 Common Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Reduce Your Settlement
1. Asking You for a Recorded Statement
One of the first things an insurance adjuster may do after an accident is call and ask you to give a recorded statement “just to get your side of the story.” This may sound routine and harmless. It rarely is.
Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can be used to minimize your claim later. They may ask how you are feeling before you have had a full medical evaluation — and if you say “okay” or “not too bad,” that statement can be used to argue your injuries were minor. They may ask you to recount events in detail, hoping for inconsistencies they can use to dispute your account.
What you should do: You are generally not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Before agreeing to any recorded statement, consult with a personal injury attorney.
2. Making a Quick, Lowball Settlement Offer
It is common for insurance companies to reach out shortly after an accident with a settlement offer. The speed can feel reassuring — like things are being handled. But early offers are almost always far below the full value of your claim.
Why? Because at the time of an early offer, the full extent of your injuries may not yet be known. Some injuries — particularly those involving soft tissue, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal damage — take weeks or months to fully manifest. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you cannot go back for more compensation, even if your condition worsens.
What you should do: Do not accept any settlement offer before you have reached maximum medical improvement and before an attorney has reviewed the full value of your claim, including future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
3. Delaying or Disputing Your Medical Treatment
Another common strategy is to challenge the medical treatment you received. An adjuster may argue that certain treatments were unnecessary, that your injuries were pre-existing, or that a gap in your care means you were not seriously hurt.
Insurance companies also sometimes deliberately drag out the claims process, hoping that financial pressure will cause you to accept a lower settlement just to get money in hand. The longer a claim drags on, the more desperate some claimants become — and insurers count on it.
What you should do: Follow your doctor’s treatment plan consistently and keep detailed records of all medical appointments, prescriptions, and out-of-pocket expenses. Gaps in treatment can be used against you, so avoid skipping appointments even when you are feeling better.
4. Blaming You for the Accident
Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means that even if you were partially at fault for an accident, you can still recover compensation — but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies know this, and they frequently try to shift as much blame as possible onto the injured party.
An adjuster might suggest that you were speeding, distracted, or failed to take reasonable precautions. The more fault they can assign to you, the less they have to pay.
What you should do: Be careful about making any statements that could be interpreted as accepting fault. Do not apologize at the scene or to the adjuster. Let the evidence speak for itself, and let an attorney advocate on your behalf.
What a Personal Injury Attorney Can Do for You
Knowing these tactics exist is one thing. Having an experienced advocate in your corner is another. A personal injury attorney can handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf, gather and preserve evidence, work with medical professionals to document the full extent of your injuries, and negotiate aggressively for a settlement that reflects the true value of your claim. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your attorney can take the case to trial.
Insurance companies take claims more seriously when an attorney is involved — and represented claimants consistently receive higher settlements than those who navigate the process alone.
Contact RSB Law for a Free Consultation
Insurance companies have the resources, experience, and motivation to pay you as little as possible. You deserve an advocate who is equally motivated to fight for what you are owed.
The personal injury attorneys at Rogers Sevastianos & Bante LLP have been representing injured clients in St. Louis and throughout Missouri for decades. If you have been injured in an accident and an insurance company has already reached out, do not wait. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every legal situation is unique, and you should consult an attorney for personalized guidance on your specific circumstances.