Negotiating Your Insurance Claim Successfully

Posted on Dec 9th 2009, 03:35 pm, under Are You Covered?

Being in an accident is never pleasant, and all too often, neither is dealing with your auto insurance provider. We already gave you advice on how to handle your insurance affairs without the services of a lawyer. Now, let's talk about negotiation. Exactly how do you make your claim when an insurance claims adjuster is sitting in front of you? Here's what you need to know:

1. Never start negotiations without the information you need to support your claim. Get your facts straight, and collect the necessary documentation to back them up. The insurance claims adjuster will want to see copies of the documents you are referring to. Show your insurance company that you're serious about your position and that you came prepared to defend it.

2. In addition to evidence and documentation, come with an idea of how much compensation you'd settle for. Before you negotiate, do research on how much it would take to repair your vehicle with decent working parts (and not used pieces).

3. Medical bills will probably make up the biggest portion of your claim. In addition to your previous medical bills, you need to provide proof of future health expenses. Ask your doctor to write you a formal description of your injuries and what other medication and procedures you may still need.

In negotiating for compensation, you should include an amount for the pain and suffering caused by the accident and injuries. Typically, this is around three times your medical bills. This is another reason why you need to keep all the documents from your health-related issues.

4. Don't be intimidated. This is very important. The insurance adjuster will probably try to rattle you by comparing your case to the countless others they've settled, using these to imply that the damages you're asking for are excessive and unreasonable. You mustn't let this affect your argument.

5. Don't settle for a low compensation amount. Firmly state that you are not there to talk about previous cases he or she may have settled, and that you want to discuss your accident and personal injuries. Your case should not be compared to others, so stick to your position.

6. In your discussion, you should talk about compensation for the days you took off from work while recuperating. Bring official documents from your company with the amount you want your insurance provider to reimburse. If you were paid using your days off, such as vacation time or sick leave, you should still ask for compensation.