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State Farm commercials are pleasant and quirky, but you can’t believe everything you see on TV. If you were in an auto accident and dealing with State Farm, it’s important to remember that business is the bottom line. You are more of an obstacle than a concern to an insurance adjuster, and minimizing (or denying) your claim is their top priority – that’s one of the dirty secrets of State Farm Insurance.
As of 2022, State Farm is the largest auto insurance company in the United States, having $40.4 billion in premiums and owning a 16% share of the US auto insurance market. State Farm employs 60,000 people and has almost 19,000 agents. Furthermore, State Farm holds a 13.4% markets share in Texas, and is the second largest auto insurance company behind Progressive. In that regard, you literally have an army of insurance adjusters working against you when you are hit by someone insured by State Farm.
State Farm’s persistent bad faith is well-known, and one of the key United State Supreme Court cases on punitive damages was a lawsuit against the company for its handling of a car accident which killed one person and left another permanently disabled. The company has numerous class actions pending in 2022, including claims that it engaged in racial discrimination, and claims it arbitrarily reduced the value of totaled vehicles when it finally paid claims.
Whether you’re up against State Farm or another insurance agency, the game is generally the same. To profit, these companies pay as little as possible. And that’s if they payout at all. Over the years, the team at Thompson Law has seen some jaw-dropping things. Contact us today to avoid being taken advantage of and get the compensation you deserve for the type of auto insurance in place.
One tactic State Farm uses is to assign “lower value” claims to an entire team of adjusters. State Farm has a program know as “Minor Impact” – similar to Farmer’s Insurance’s “No Damage, No Injury” or Allstate’s MIST (Minor Impact Soft Tissue) programs – in which they are arguing due to the small amount of property damage (e.g., $1,500 in repair estimates for Allstate) there can be no injury and thus no treatment costs. When this happens, you can be sure you won’t be getting a fair payout. Labeling you as “lower value” means the company has already decided your accident was minor.
The difference between a single adjuster and a team of adjusters is this: team adjusters have less authority than any other adjusters at the company. This means that a team will offer you even less than an individual adjuster would, even though they are all motivated to minimize or delay your claim.
A car accident lawyer can help argue against these teams of adjusters that even relatively minor impact accidents can lead to injury. Filing a lawsuit can move your claim from a team to a single adjuster. While this isn’t any indicator that they’ll offer a fair settlement, it is a move in the right direction to let State Farm know you are serious about your injuries.
Did State Farm ask you to give a recorded statement? You are under no obligation to do so, and should not before speaking with a personal injury lawyer who can help you understand your rights. While an adjuster might act like this step is non-negotiable, it’s critical to recognize it as a trap by State Farm’s insurance adjusters.
State Farm adjusters want to get you on tape so they can ask questions designed to result in a response that benefits them. After a crash, a victim’s memory might be hazy, or they might be in a state of distress. If State Farm needs information about your injuries, they can check medical records. If they have questions about your accident, they can check the police report. Don’t let them fool you into believing otherwise.
A State Farm adjuster might use your statement against you to argue:
A State Farm adjuster will never say so, but they do not want you to seek legal representation. That’s because they know an experienced personal injury attorney is familiar with their strategies and prepared to act as your advocate. At Thompson Law, we work hard on behalf of accident victims, ensuring they get fair compensation for their injuries.
Insurance agencies like State Farm have even been known to tell people their claim will be reduced if they hire an attorney. Remember, just because it’s in their best interest to feed you this information doesn’t mean it’s true. In fact, the involvement of a skilled personal injury lawyer increases your chance of receiving a higher payout.
State Farm will attempt to delay responding to your claim, sometimes by as much as 75 days. Once an adjuster receives your claim they have 15 days to request additional information, and 15 more days to make a determination. If State Farm provides a reason why they could not respond within those 30 days, then can take up to 45 more days to review the claim, especially with more complex claims. Delays tend to work in State Farm’s favor because, as your medical bills mount up, you become desperate to settle and get them paid.
Once State Farm does respond to your claim, their initial offer will be very low. They will question the medical necessity of the treatment you received, challenge the cost of the medical care, argue that certain treatments or diagnostic exams were unneeded, and do everything they can to frustrate your efforts to resolve the injury claim. A personal injury lawyer is best suited to counter these arguments from State Farm, as we see the care provided and know the costs of procedures commonly related to car accident injury claims every day.
Cute commercials aside, insurance companies like State Farm are in it for the money. Unfortunately, that means keeping much-needed funds out of the hands of accident victims who desperately need them.
Call Thompson Law today for a free consultation so we can discuss your legal rights and options. A personal injury lawyer can help you deal with adjusters, negotiate a fair settlement, and understand your legal rights. We never not collect compensation until you do, and your consultation is FREE.
Personal injury settlements vary greatly, and your compensation depends on your injuries, the nature of the accident, and total damages. The average auto liability claim is around $3,231, and the average bodily injury claim is approximately $15,433. A personal injury attorney can help you better understand what your case might be worth.
No two cases are alike, and the length of time varies, just like the settlement amount. One important thing to keep in mind is the statute of limitations. In Texas, you have two years to file a personal injury claim. While that might sound like a long time, it’s best to hire an experienced lawyer who can ensure you file correctly. The average personal injury lawsuit takes anywhere from less than a year to around two years.
Yes. A car accident lawyer has extensive experience with insurance companies and personal injury law. When you’re recovering from a crash, the last thing you want to do is deal with adjusters trying to give you a lowball offer or deny your claim outright.
Common causes of car accidents in Texas include drunk driving, texting or talking while driving, speeding, tailgating, and aggressive driving or road rage. While many drivers are prone to multitask, even a few seconds of distraction can cause a severe or fatal crash. You need to know what to do if you are in a car accident.
On average, a personal injury lawsuit might be anywhere between $3,000 and $75,000. But as you can see from our results, Thompson Law has won cases that settled for much more.
The phone number for State Farm Insurance Claims related to auto accidents is 1-800-SF-CLAIM (1-800-732-5246). You may also submit an auto accident claim with State Farm online, though we highly suggest you consult with our State Farm Insurance claims lawyers before doing so.
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Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.
