State Farm Auto Accident Claims Attorneys

Tips on Dealing with State Farm

State Farm Insurance Company has been the leading property and casualty insurer in the United States for decades, generating more than $60 billion in revenue each year, well ahead of its closest competitors. But while it famously compares itself to a “Good Neighbor,” rest assured that State Farm is like every other insurance company – far more interested in the bottom line and the demands of its shareholders than in the needs of its policyholders or the victims who have been hurt by them.

If you are a policyholder or victim seeking compensation from the insurance giant, here are some important tips to keep in mind when dealing with the claims adjusters and attorneys at State Farm:

Do Not Trust the State Farm Adjuster to Handle Your Claim

Never forget that an insurance company and its representatives are not there to look out for your best interests.  No matter what the adjuster may tell you, an insurer’s primary concern is maximizing its profits.  To do so, it has to pay out as little as possible in claims, which means settling cases for far less than they are worth.

Assume State Farm’s First Offer Is Unreasonable

This is more likely to be true the sooner an offer is made.  In the immediate aftermath of an auto accident, you will probably not know the full nature and severity of your injuries, the extent of your treatment, how long it may take you to recover, and the total costs associated with this incident, both in terms of medical expenses and loss of earnings.  If you do not know the value of your claim at the time of your settlement offer, the chances are that the State Farm adjuster doesn’t either.  He or she is simply trying to close out your file as soon as possible to protect the company from further exposure, leaving you solely responsible for the remainder of your financial damages.

State Farm Will Count on Your Inexperience to Settle for Less

This may be your first car accident, but it is far from the first for State Farm, which has thousands of veteran insurance adjusters and attorneys on its payroll.  The typical adjuster has negotiated hundreds of auto accident claims or more, many that are very much like yours, and your inexperience puts you at a disadvantage.  The adjuster knows the ins and outs of the claims process, what a case like yours may be worth, and, most importantly, how little State Farm can offer to make your claim go away.  What might seem like a good settlement to you might actually be the equivalent of pennies on the dollar to your State Farm adjuster. Moreover, the adjuster could also simply deny your claim outright by:

• • Asserting that YOU were at fault for the accident, not the policyholder;
  • Arguing that your injuries were unrelated to the incident; or
  • Insisting that you were not even injured at all.

By preying upon your relative ignorance of the claims process and the law, the adjusters and attorneys at State Farm and other insurance companies can pursue a delay-and-deny strategy in the hopes that you just give up on the whole thing.

Retain an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

In situations like these, retaining knowledgeable legal counsel can make all the difference.  Like an adjuster, an experienced car accident attorney may also have negotiated hundreds of claims or more, many probably very much like yours.  Your lawyer will likely have a reasonable idea of what your claim is worth and will fight to obtain or exceed that amount.  Additionally, your attorney will have full knowledge of the law and will use it to swat away any questionable objections that the adjuster might raise.  Fighting a multibillion-dollar insurance company like State Farm is a David vs. Goliath proposition.  A seasoned lawyer can be your slingshot.

Contact Our Dedicated Car Accident Attorneys Today

At GWC, we want to be that slingshot.  For over forty years, our car accident attorneys have been fighting Goliaths like State Farm in order to get our clients full and fair compensation for their injuries.  We have the expertise, the determination, and the resources needed to get you and your family the justice you deserve.

Unlike other car accident lawyers, GWC is not afraid to go to court if you do not receive a reasonable offer from the insurance company.  Moreover, insurers and their attorneys know we will win, as evidenced by the more than $2 billion dollars we have recovered in verdicts and settlements, making us one of the leading Personal Injury law firms in Illinois.  Our reputation of success pressures State Farm and other insurance companies to offer top dollar to settle claims because they fear what will happen if they do not.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact GWC Injury Lawyers today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our car accident attorneys.  Please call us at (312) 999-9999 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.