Insurance companies try to devalue car accident claims in Tennessee by taking steps like disputing liability, questioning the seriousness of the victim’s injuries, highlighting gaps in their medical treatment, and pushing lowball settlement offers. These strategies are designed to limit how much the insurer pays for the claim under state law.
Learning about how these tactics work can help you protect your rights and ability to recover maximum compensation after a crash, so read on for the information you need to know.
Disputing Liability Under Tennessee Law
Tennessee has an at-fault car insurance system, which means victims can take legal action directly against the drivers responsible for their injuries (as well as the at-fault party’s insurance company. Insurers often focus heavily on liability in these cases so that they can work to protect their profits.
One reason for this focus is the state’s modified comparative fault laws, which bar you from recovering compensation if you’re found to be 50% or more responsible for the accident. Otherwise, you can still receive damages, but they can be reduced based on your assigned percentage of the blame.
Questioning the Severity of Your Injuries
Another common tactic is minimizing how serious your injuries appear. Insurance adjusters often review your medical records closely to look for inconsistencies or reasons to argue that your condition is not as severe as claimed.
They may point to issues such as:
- Delays in seeking medical treatment
- Gaps between doctor visits
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Limited objective findings on imaging tests
By raising these points, the insurer may claim that some of your symptoms are less serious than you report or another similar type of argument.
Using Early Settlement Offers To Limit Their Exposure
Insurance companies sometimes move quickly to offer a settlement soon after the crash. While this may seem helpful, early offers are often lower than what your claim is actually worth.
At that stage, you may not yet know the full cost of your medical care and whether you will need ongoing treatment. Accepting an early settlement generally ends your claim, regardless of whether any new complications arise later.
This approach can save the insurer money but leaves accident victims without sufficient compensation for long-term losses.
Requesting Extensive Documentation
Insurers may also ask for large amounts of documentation before seriously evaluating your claim. While some requests are reasonable, others can slow the process and create opportunities to challenge your damages.
If anything in these materials appears inconsistent, the insurer may use it to argue that your claim is overstated.
Protecting the Value of Your Tennessee Car Accident Claim
Knowing how these tactics work can help you respond more effectively during the claims process. At the end of the day, what’s most important to remember is that the insurance company does not have your best interests in mind.
If you need help with a car accident claim in Tennessee, reach out to Woodard Injury Law today for a free consultation at (615) 880-6126. We can fill you in on your legal rights and options as well as what we can do for you at that time.