Insurance companies work hard to appear friendly after an accident, but their priority is minimizing payouts — not helping you. Understanding their tactics can protect your rights and strengthen your claim.
These are the things insurers hope you never learn.
1. They Record Every Call (and Hope You Slip Up)
Even casual statements like:
“I feel okay today”
“I didn’t see the other car”
“I’m not sure if I need more treatment”
…can be used against you.
This is why victims often contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer before giving any recorded statement.
2. They Will Try to Settle Before You Know the Extent of Your Injuries
Quick settlements typically mean:
No imaging completed
No specialist evaluations
No understanding of long-term limitations
This is especially risky for victims who later need a catastrophic injury lawyer due to changing dynamics such as evolving neurological symptoms in a traumatic brain injury.
3. They Monitor Your Social Media
Adjusters look for anything that contradicts your claim:
Photos of walking, exercising, or traveling
Smiling at events
Comments from friends
Even posts unrelated to the accident can be misinterpreted.
4. Insurance Companies Share Data About You
Major insurers use shared databases that track:
Prior claims
Medical treatment history
Lawsuit involvement
Settlement patterns
They know more than most people realize.
5. They Hope You Don’t Preserve Evidence
Evidence disappears quickly:
Video footage erased in days
Vehicles repaired
Spills cleaned
Witnesses vanish
Premises liability cases often require an injury lawyer to send preservation letters before evidence is lost.
6. They Use Delays to Wear You Down
Common delay tactics include:
“We need more documents.”
“Your adjuster is unavailable.”
“We’re still reviewing the file.”
Requesting duplicate records repeatedly
The goal is to frustrate you into accepting less.
7. They Fear Trial-Ready Firms
Insurers keep databases showing which law firms:
File lawsuits
Take cases to trial
Accept low settlements
When high-stakes cases arise, such as commercial vehicle crashes requiring a truck accident attorney in Orange County, they offer more to firms known for litigation.
Conclusion
Understanding insurance company strategies is one of the best ways to protect your claim. With the right legal guidance from a personal injury law firm in Irvine, you can avoid common traps and secure a fair outcome.
About the Author
Cynthia Craig is a senior trial attorney and founding partner of Kubota & Craig, PC, a National and Regional Tier 1 personal injury law firm based in Irvine, California. Recognized by Best Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and repeatedly named a Southern California Super Lawyer, she represents injured clients in motor vehicle collisions, catastrophic injuries, premises liability, and wrongful death cases across Orange County.
