FAQs about Insurance Companies

Answers to your questions from a source you can trust – Klie Law Offices of West Virginia

If you or a loved one was injured, you may be entitled to compensation. Your personal injury case may seem straightforward. Maybe the person admitted fault. All you need to do is simply contact the insurance company and everything will be taken care of.

Don’t be so sure. The interests of insurance companies are not aligned with the interests of victims. These companies don’t make profits by paying out claims to people who were injured or to families who lost loved ones in accidents. They boost their bottom lines by delaying, defending and denying claims. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers working behind the scenes to protect their interests. They employ claims adjusters who may come across as friendly, but in reality are trained to find ways to minimize compensation for accident victims.

When you have an experienced attorney on your side, you can level the playing field. You’ll have someone who will go toe-to-toe with the insurance companies. Contact Klie Law Offices now. We know how to negotiate with insurance companies and get injury victims the money they rightfully deserve.

You have questions. We have answers.

Our years of experience working on complicated personal injury and wrongful death cases have given us a wealth of knowledge and insight into insurance companies. To help you, we have created this FAQ page. Click on the following questions to learn more. You can also learn more about us and what we can do for you on our paged titled questions for your personal injury lawyer. If you have another question or want a more detailed answer about your specific case, contact us immediately. We can explain all the legal options available to you and which ones make the most sense for your specific case.

1. Should I hire a lawyer to deal with an insurance company after an accident?

Personal injury claims can become complicated fast. Insurance companies have attorneys and adjusters who deal with claims every day. For most accident victims, filing an injury claim is a first-time experience. It’s not unusual for victims to get frustrated when insurance companies delay taking action on a claim or simply refuse to settle the case.

To make sure your rights are fully protected, we recommend contacting our law firm in West Virginia as soon as possible. You have nothing to lose by arranging a free case evaluation to discuss your case. If you choose Klie Law Offices, you’ll know you have a powerful advocate on your side. We’re not afraid to go toe to toe with insurance companies and their lawyers. We know their tactics and their strategies, and we’re prepared to do whatever it takes to get you the money you rightfully deserve. That includes taking insurance companies to court and filing a personal injury lawsuit if necessary in some cases.

Learn more about why you should hire us on our page devoted to why hire a personal injury attorney in West Virginia. And most importantly, make sure you contact us and schedule a free case evaluation. Call (866) 408-9059.

2. What should I do if the insurance adjuster wants to settle my claim?

Always be leery of claims adjusters who want to settle cases soon after someone is injured in an accident. If they know they can’t deny a claim, most insurance companies will want victims to give up their rights and agree to a fast settlement before the full extent of the accident has been determined. Insurance companies also hope to deal with accident victims who don’t have lawyers. They know many victims simply don’t realize the full value of their claim.

That’s where an attorney can help you. If an insurance company adjuster makes an offer to settle your case, say no and then call us. We can help you determine the value of your case.

3. What do you recommend I do if the adjuster wants me to give a written or recorded statement?

Do not make any formal statements (written or verbal) about your accident without first discussing the details of your case with your attorney. Anything you say or write about your accident can be used as evidence against you.

Even if the insurance adjuster insists that he or she only wants to ask a few simple questions, politely decline to answer any questions and simply direct them to contact us. We know how to deal with insurance companies and know what information to provide in order to build the strongest case on your behalf.

4. Do I need to tell my insurance company I’ve been in an accident?

Yes, but before you make that call we invite you to call us. Your case evaluation is free and confidential. You can ask us any questions you might have about the accident or dealing with the insurance company. We may even be able to contact your insurance company on your behalf.

If you do call your insurance company before talking to us, keep your statement brief. Simply inform the insurance company you have been in an accident. You can say when it happened and offer names of people involved, but do not discuss fault or go into great detail during your initial call.

After that call, remember to call us to find out about your legal options.

5. What are signs my insurance company is acting in bad faith?

Sometimes, insurance companies will do everything they can to pay injury victims as little as possible. In some cases, they cross the line into illegal behavior. You may have a case against your insurance company when it does not honor the obligations in your insurance contract. This is called a bad faith case, which arises from disputes between you and your own insurance company. We have seen bad faith cases involving all kinds of insurance, from health and dental to automobile and homeowners.

Be aware of some of the most common warning signs of insurance companies acting in bad faith:

Wrongly accusing someone of causing an accident
Not thoroughly investigating an accident claim
Not returning phone calls from someone with an accident claim
Lying to accident victims
Falsifying information
Withholding information

If you suspect bad faith by your insurer, contact Klie Law Offices. We know how to handle uncooperative insurance companies, and we’re prepared to do whatever it takes to help you obtain the compensation you rightfully deserve.