Secrets of Accident Claims Against GEICO REVEALED!

Ryan Bradley | November 23, 2021 | Car Accident

According to the CDC, there were approximately 400,000 people injured in car accidents in 2018. The second-largest auto insurance policy provider in the country is the Government Employees Insurance Company, better known as “GEICO.” Since this company is so large, chances are that you may have to deal with their insurance adjusters after a car accident.

Whether you have your own auto insurance through GEICO or you are involved in an accident with someone else who uses GEICO, you need to be aware of the common accident tactics they use.

With this in mind, here are common strategies that GEICO uses to delay or deny claims.

Secret #1: They Use Phone Calls Against You

After a car accident, a claims adjuster will likely call you on the phone and ask you to provide a recorded statement. The claims adjuster may state that a recorded statement is required to be able to file a claim. This is untrue.

In many cases, a claims adjuster will use your recorded statement as an opportunity to twist your words. They’ll do this by recording the phone call as they’re speaking with you. 

Sometimes, they’ll ask you upfront if it’s okay to record the conversations. They may even claim that they need to record the call for legal or quality assurance reasons. This is simply untrue. 

The truth is worse, however, because they can legally record the conversation without you knowing. According to federal law, it is legal to record conversations as long as one party knows that the recording is happening. 

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, your best course of action is to not talk to the GEICO adjuster when they call. Instead, refer them to your attorney.

Secret #2: They Manipulate the Meaning of Your Words

Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught in an insurance adjuster’s trap because you’re being polite. You answer the phone, they ask how you are, you say that you’re “fine,” and they proceed to claim that you must not have any injuries since you openly stated you were fine. 

Other things that a claims adjuster might seek to misrepresent include:

  • Details about missed work days
  • How much your medical bills are so far
  • What treatments you’ve had
  • What you were doing when the crash happened

If you speak to the adjuster two days after your accident, you might have only had one urgent care bill so far because you’re waiting on appointments with specialists. Thus, they may try to claim later that you only deserve to be compensated for the one bill you mentioned on the phone.

Don’t fall into their traps. It can take days or weeks for injuries from an accident to become clear. It can take even longer to seek out medical care, especially if you need to speak with specialists. 

Secret #3: They Don’t Care What Your Bills Are

When you’re injured in an auto accident, the insurance company of the at-fault party is obligated to pay for the medical expenses you face as a result of your accident. Whether you have costs from an ambulance ride, emergency room treatment, or expensive prescriptions written by your doctor, the insurance company is supposed to pay for those bills. 

GEICO, however, does not look at what your actual bills are. Instead, they consult with their own staff professionals who quote what they state is a “reasonable” cost for the medical services you’ve received. They then offer to compensate you with that lower amount, instead of paying for your established bills.

Secret #4: They Offer Lowball Settlements

Sometimes, GEICO will make a quick settlement offer within days of the accident. They often offer a very low amount to the victim with the hopes that the offer will be accepted and they’ll have no further obligations.

The insurance adjuster wants the victim to accept this offer fast before they’ve had time to think things through fully or consult an attorney. 

When a settlement offer is accepted, you will often have to sign a statement explicitly stating that you will not pursue further damages. Even if the car accident victim discovers that they have lifelong injuries that were directly caused by the accident, they will be unable to seek further compensation after an accepted settlement.

Secret #5: They Don’t Want You to Know Your Claim’s True Value

Perhaps the biggest secret of all is that GEICO doesn’t want you to know what your accident claim is actually worth. 

It’s common for someone to walk away from a wreck, believing that they have not suffered any injuries. Once the adrenaline wears off, however, they may find that they’re faced with injuries such as:

  • Whiplash
  • Spine injuries
  • Neck and shoulder injuries
  • Nerve and muscle damage
  • Brain injuries
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Internal damage

Some of these injuries might require extensive physical therapy and ongoing pain management medication. Others might require surgeries or other treatments that span months or years.

It’s not uncommon for a car accident to completely change someone’s life. Aside from the obvious immediate problems related to medical bills and recovery time, many car accident victims also suffer from other consequences, such as:

  • Residual pain and suffering
  • Mental stress and trauma
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Fear of driving or being in a vehicle
  • Reduced social interactions
  • Reduced ability to perform their job duties
  • Extended time off work for recovery

If the claims adjuster can talk the victim into settling quickly, the company can avoid paying for all of these related expenses.

Secret #5: They Don’t Want You to Talk to a Lawyer

When car accident victims decide to talk to a personal injury lawyer, they can avoid many of the tactics mentioned here.

Personal injury attorneys usually provide a free consultation. If you’ve been in a car accident, you can schedule a meeting to review the facts of your case with an experienced attorney, who can help you to understand the steps you need to take to pursue adequate compensation.

Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm For Help Today

For more information, please contact Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free case evaluation today.

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1430 Washington Ave Suite #226 St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 400-0000

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1509 NE Parvin Rd, Suite A., Kansas City, MO 64116
(816) 408-3448

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