Imagine being in a car accident in Florida. You’re sitting at a traffic light in Fort Lauderdale, and someone slams into you from behind. You have injuries and may be unable to work for weeks. What should you do? 

Florida law allows you to file a personal injury claim for your losses. Florida is a no-fault state, so you may need to file a claim with your insurance company. In limited cases, you may also qualify for filing a lawsuit and demanding compensation from the other driver’s insurance company. Whether you obtain compensation from your or another insurance company, it’s important not to allow the insurance company to lowball you. 

If another party hit your car in Florida, consider hiring a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer. A dedicated injury attorney could obtain compensation for your injuries and other losses. 

Why Do Florida Insurance Companies Lowball Plaintiffs? 

It seems really unfair, but sometimes an insurance company will offer you far less than your accident claim is worth. Lowball insurance claims are common in the auto accident insurance industry. Why? 

It’s really simple. Insurance companies want to pay as little in settlements as they can. They always want to limit their liability and increase profits for the company and shareholders. 

Insurance companies try to take advantage of the plaintiff not fully understanding what their case is worth. This is why the insurance company may quickly call you after an accident before you hire a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer. Your injury attorney knows what the case is worth. Once you retain an attorney, the chances of getting away with a low-ball offer disappear. 

Signs That The Florida Insurance Company Is Lowballing You

There are several things to look for that suggest the insurance company isn’t offering as much as they should: 

The Insurance Company Makes An Offer The Day Of The Crash 

Insurance companies usually offer settlements to avoid expensive lawsuits. If the case goes to court, it’s more likely the insurance provider will pay more. That is why insurance companies typically offer settlements early in negotiations. The insurer can save a lot of money if they can get you to accept a settlement and waive your right to sue. 

Odds are the insurance company is making a lowball offer if they call you the day of the accident and make an offer. For example, if the accident was clearly the other party’s fault, such as in a DUI, the insurance company could call you and offer to pay all of your medical bills. You should immediately reject the offer and talk to an attorney. The insurance company knows it’s on the hook and will try to get you to take less money right away. But you are probably entitled to more for your lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. 

Evidence Is Ignored

Determining fault boils down to the strength of the evidence. If the insurance company ignores important evidence, such as eyewitness testimony or medical records, they suggest they don’t matter. If the insurer doesn’t fully account for the case evidence, you are likely being lowballed. 

The Insurance Company Doesn’t Detail Its Figure

Suppose the insurance company calls you on the day of the accident and offers you a flat $10,000 to settle the case. They don’t explain the amount or why they arrived at $10,000. Any insurance settlement offer should be accompanied by how the adjuster arrived at that number. If they don’t, they are lowballing you by dangling money in front of you without an explanation. Don’t be tempted because your case is probably worth more. 

The Insurance Company Downplays Your Injuries

If you receive a low offer, the insurance company may contend you have minor injuries. A common example is soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash. Whiplash is often a painful, debilitating injury. However, the injury is usually to the soft tissues in the neck. It is difficult to see this injury in an X-ray or MRI, so the insurance adjuster may claim it’s a minor injury. When the insurance company doesn’t take your injuries seriously, you are probably being lowballed. 

The Insurance Company Blames You 

The other driver was likely at fault if you were rear-ended in Fort Lauderdale. But the adjuster may claim you were partially to blame when you weren’t. This is another lowball tactic that reduces what they pay you. Don’t take their low offer. Instead, speak to a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer to help you receive the most for your losses.