News & Resources

Get Help From an Experienced Tampa Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Florida, then you may have to submit a claim for compensation with your insurer.  This can lead to quite a surprise, however.  Insurers routinely deny claims without reasonable legal justification for doing so — after all, they are fundamentally misaligned.  Their profit margins are dependent on denying you rightful legal compensation, and so they will engage in underhanded tactics: delay, mismanagement of claims, and denial (lacking evidentiary justification) to pay out as little as possible.

Insurers are not your friends.  They are not your allies.  Let’s take a closer look at what you can do to overcome the barriers they pose to recovery.

Avoid Direct Communication

Avoid directly communicating with the insurer.  Insurance companies may come across as friendly and helpful, but in truth, their communications with you (after an accident) are intended to secure information that they can use against you.

This is sensible, given the oppositional dynamic of insurance coverage.  As a policyholder, you are attempting to secure compensation.  The insurance company is attempting to maximize its profits, by denying coverage (or by undervaluing your claim).  Do not treat the insurance company as a friend, or an ally.  They are in opposition to you.  As such, communications can be deleterious to your case.  If you are on a call with your insurer and you admit fault, they will use that against you.

Given the nature of communications with insurers, it is important to seek the assistance of a qualified attorney who can be the communication “middleman.”  They will ensure that you do not disclose information that could undermine your claims and will help resolve the dispute without heightening the conflict (to the degree possible).

Taking a Cautious Approach

Insurers use several other problematic tactics to identify “weak points” in your arguments and thereby undermine your claim (so that they do not have to pay out compensation, or so that they can pay you less).

For example, insurers may send investigators to scour your social media for evidence that you have been physically active.  Perhaps you play recreational sports every other weekend.  This may provide ample basis for the insurer to deny or undervalue your car accident claims, as they will argue that your injuries are not severe.

There are counters to this tactic (i.e., pointing out that your injuries have not completely destroyed physical function, but put limitations on how long you can exert yourself).  Still, you will want to take a cautious approach with your personal life while the case is ongoing.  An experienced attorney can provide guidance on what you will need to do to maximize the likelihood of success.

Contact a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer at Alley Clark Greiwe for Help

Here at Alley, Clark & Greiwe, our attorneys have decades of experience representing injured plaintiffs in a range of disputes, including car accident disputes.

Over the years, we have developed a client-focused style of representation — it is our belief that clients should be kept “in the loop” and informed as the case develops.  We work closely with clients throughout the process.  This gives us deep insight into the case at hand, often affording us a negotiating advantage.

Have you been injured in a car accident in Florida?  We encourage you to get in touch with an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer at Alley, Clark & Greiwe for guidance on how to proceed.

Call us at (800) 840-0977 or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation.  We look forward to speaking with you.