Established in 1916, Michigan-based Auto-Owners Insurance Group operates through a network of over 44,000 independent agents in 26 states. In addition to auto insurance, the company offers a wide range of other insurance-related products for consumers and businesses. With over $20 billion in assets, the insurance business has been very good to them.
On their website, Auto-Owners Insurance boasts of multiple top rankings in auto claims satisfaction by J. D. Power, and they say their mission is to pay all they owe on every claim and pay it as soon as they can. Like all insurance companies, though, they’re in this business to make money. As many Auto-Owners policyholders have discovered, this means looking for any excuse to not pay out on claims.
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident you had no part in causing, you have a right to expect your insurance company to compensate you for your expenses. All your expenses. Like many other accident victims have found, though, it may be necessary to hire an attorney. For best results, you need an experienced personal injury attorney—the kind you’ll find at Warshafsky Law. We know how to fight back to get our clients the auto accident settlements they’re owed.
If your injury occurred while on workplace property, while using workplace vehicles, or while carrying out duties of your job, speak with a lawyer for worker compensation to discuss the true value of your case.
Auto-Owners operates through a network of independent agents who not only sell policies but also handle claims. After an accident, you’re supposed to contact your agent as soon as possible to report the accident. Auto-Owners provides an after-hours phone service for reporting claim emergencies. Before you contact your agent to report a claim, though, you need to be prepared.
When you call your Auto-Owners agent to file your claim, there’s a good chance the call will be recorded. If you say anything to suggest you were even partially at fault for the accident, you’ve just handed them a reason for minimizing your claim or denying it entirely. This does NOT help you maximize your settlement amount.
The agent you speak with will gather information about your accident from the police report, witnesses, and any other sources they can locate. They’re primarily looking for evidence of who was at fault for the accident. Anything that even suggests you were partially at fault will be used to justify a lower settlement on your claim.
During the course of your conversation with the Auto-Owners agent, there’s a good chance you’ll be asked to sign a medical records release form. They’ll tell you they just need it to verify the extent of your injuries. Don’t agree to this until you’ve consulted an attorney.
Handing them a signed medical records release form means they can look into your entire medical history—and you can bet they will. It’s not uncommon for unrelated or long-past health issues to be dredged up by an insurer as a potential contributor to your accident or your injuries, thereby giving them a reason to deny payment.
A good attorney will advise you on how to give your insurance company limited access to your medical records so they can only see what’s relevant to your accident.
If you go into the claims process blindly trusting your insurance company to do the right thing, you’re in for a letdown. Anyone contesting a settlement would be well advised to learn as much as possible about the claims process. We highly recommend this article on the most common insurance company tactics used to minimize your settlement.
Before you can be compensated for all the expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your accident, you have to have documentation. Save all your medical bills, receipts for bandages, crutches, prescriptions, and anything else you’ve had to buy. Keep track of your mileage/transportation costs for getting back and forth to doctor appointments, too, as well as the days you were unable to work due to your injury. It all adds up.
Costs to consider when calculating the value of your claim:
Dealing with insurance companies is stressful and time-consuming. They make it this way in the hope you’ll cave in and accept whatever settlement they’ve offered you. Don’t do it. If your claim is legitimate, you have every right to hold out for everything you’re owed.
You’ll see and hear a lot of ads from law firms that boast about how many personal injury cases they’ve settled. These law firms are what’s known as “settlement mills.” They’re only interested in settling your case quickly, getting their cut of the insurance company’s payout, and showing you the door. They have zero clout to negotiate higher settlements from insurance companies because the insurance companies know these law firms will never take them to court. If you want the settlement you deserve, stay away from “sign and settle” law firms.
Even though you may be committed to handling your claim on your own, it’s worth taking advantage of a free consultation with a personal injury attorney. Most law firms offer this, Warshafsky Law included. Our free case assessment will definitely help you get a better understanding of how much is at stake with your claim.
Warshafsky Law has a long history of taking on big companies and winning big for our clients. The minute we take a case, we work from the premise that it will go to trial.
Insurance companies know our reputation for aggressive representation, and for winning at trial. Faced with the prospect of an expensive trial and the very real potential for a huge loss, their first reaction upon hearing you’re being represented by us is usually “What can we do to settle this case?” If their offer is fair, we’ll recommend you take it. If not, we’ll take them to court.
Although Warshafsky Law is based in Milwaukee, we represent clients throughout the US. If you don’t live close by, you can take advantage of a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys by phone. Should you decide to hire us, don’t worry about a retainer or monthly bills. We don’t ask for payment until you have received your settlement.
