How to Negotiate a Car Insurance Claim with State Farm Insurance in Texas
Negotiating a Texas insurance claim with a company like State Farm Insurance can be a difficult process. Many insurance companies do not offer adequate settlement amounts to people injured in serious car accidents or restrict the amount of money they can receive. When you are trying to stay on top of medical bills or find a suitable vehicle replacement, the lack of funds can place undue stress on top of your injuries.
To increase your chances of a successful claim, enlist the services of a car accident attorney who can negotiate with State Farm on your behalf. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident, you could claim compensation for damages such as treatment costs, lost wages, and more.
How to File a State Farm Claim in Texas
Texas is a fault insurance state. After a car accident, the injured person must file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. If the other person does not have insurance or the policy does not cover your damages, you can purchase uninsured/uninsured driver liability coverage under your own plan.
When you file a claim with State Farm, the company will assign a claims adjuster to work on your case. This adjuster works on behalf of State Farm, and his or her main priority is to settle your claim at the lowest amount possible. Since the insurance companies must pay for your injuries, it is in their best interest not to offer the maximum possible amount.
You can choose to settle your State Farm claim on your own, or you could obtain the services of a personal injury attorney with experience in car accident cases.
Negotiation Tips for Texas State Farm Clients
If you decide to enter into an insurance negotiation alone, consider a few tips you can follow to increase your chances of a successful outcome.
- Understand your adjuster’s motivations. His or her top priority is to save State Farm from large expenditures. He or she may try to find ways to offer you a lower amount than what you really need. Tell your adjuster about the extent and impact of your injuries, the trauma of the accident, and your financial situation. This will make it more difficult for the adjuster to offer a lower settlement.
- Calculate your actual damages before the meeting. This will help you gain an idea of how much your claim should be. Tally up all losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, treatment costs, and pain and suffering. Send the settlement offer to the adjuster with specific amounts.
- Prepare for the art of negotiation. You and your adjuster will go back and forth to settle your claim. He or she will likely reject your settlement offer and try to get you to agree to a lower amount. Always ask the adjuster to justify the lower amount and if he or she cannot do so, argue for the higher payment.
Obtain Legal Representation
Negotiating with an insurance company can be a nerve-wracking experience. Entering into these negotiations alone can result in a lower settlement amount than with legal representation.
Legal representation in insurance negotiations can provide multiple benefits to injured parties.
- Your attorney will have years of experience handling car insurance claims. He or she can negotiation effectively with the adjuster, increasing your chances of a higher claim.
- Your attorney will know how much your settlement amount should be and help you calculate your damages.
- Insurance companies may be less likely to lowball clients with legal representation because of the expertise that the lawyer brings to the table.
Many injured parties who enter into discussions with State Farm in Texas without legal representation report difficulty negotiating a fair settlement. To increase your chances of a successful outcome, hire an attorney.**
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