11 Things Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know After a Car Accident

When you’ve been injured in a car accident, dealing with the insurance company can feel like entering a rigged game. You’re hurting, stressed, and trying to get back on your feet — and you’re up against a powerful corporation that’s trained to minimize your payout.

In our years of experience, our team at M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers has learned the hard truth: Insurance companies are in business to protect their profits. While they may promise to be “on your side,” their priority is keeping costs low, not helping you recover physically or financially.

Knowing how they operate can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll share 11 things most insurance companies don’t want you to know after a crash and give you guidance on protecting your rights every step of the way.

1. You Don’t Have to Give Them a Recorded Statement

After an accident, the insurance adjuster may call and ask you to provide a recorded statement. It might seem like a routine part of the process — but what you say can (and often will) be used against you.

Even innocent comments like “I’m feeling okay today” can be twisted to suggest your injuries aren’t serious. You have every right to say no (however, you may be required to give a statement to your own UM/UIM carrier) or to delay the conversation until you’ve spoken with a personal injury attorney.

Here’s the bottom line: be careful with your words. Don’t let an early conversation hurt your case down the line. And if you’re unsure of what next step to take, get a free consultation with a local personal injury attorney.

2. The First Settlement Offer Is Deliberately Low

If an insurance company offers you money right away, be wary. Early offers are almost always lowball attempts to settle your case, made before the full extent of your injuries, treatment needs, and long-term impacts are even known.

These offers are meant to capitalize on your stress. They’re hoping you’ll grab the check and sign away your rights, just to get some relief. But fast money now often means you’ll be left paying out of pocket later.

A fair settlement accounts for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and future care — not just what you’re facing today.

3. They Use Delay Tactics to Pressure You

Some insurers will drag out your insurance claim, hoping to wear you down. The longer it takes, the more financial strain you feel, and the more likely you are to accept a low offer just to move on.

Common delay tactics include:

• Repeated requests for unnecessary documentation
• Claiming that they’re still “investigating” an accident
• Sudden changes in your assigned adjuster

Of course, some delays may be part of the normal process of seeking compensation. But if you feel like you’re being strung along, you probably are. These tactics are designed to create pressure, not provide support. An experienced personal injury lawyer can be your advocate if an insurer is stalling or acting in bad faith.

4. Adjusters Are Not Your Friends, Despite Their Friendly Demeanor

Insurance adjusters often come across as empathetic, chatty, and supportive. That’s intentional.

Behind the kindness is a trained professional whose job is to minimize your payout. They may ask leading questions, try to get you to downplay your injuries, or nudge you toward a quick settlement. Remember, even if they are a genuinely good person, it’s still their job to save their company as much as possible!

No matter how friendly they seem, we recommend protecting your rights in the same way that adjusters are trained to protect their company.

5. They Have Teams of Lawyers, Doctors, and Experts Working Against Your Claim

Most insurance companies have entire teams of attorneys and medical experts who work behind the scenes to protect their bottom line.

These professionals may:

• Review your medical records looking for “pre-existing conditions”
• Dispute the cause of your injuries
• Downplay the severity of your pain or disability

If you’re involved in a wreck with a commercial vehicle, especially a large tractor trailer, a team of accident experts will likely be deployed to investigate the crash. This investigation is often occurring while you’re en route to the hospital, and its purpose is to uncover any defenses the driver of the commercial vehicle may have–including placing fault on you!

When you’re up against this kind of coordinated effort, having your own legal advocate is essential. Our lawyers know the ins and outs of Georgia and South Carolina law, and we’ll work to capture the full impact of your accident and ensure you get full, fair compensation.

6. Your Social Media Can Undermine Your Claim

You might think that posting a photo or status update has nothing to do with your accident. But insurance companies often comb through social media looking for anything that contradicts your claim.

Examples include:

• A smiling selfie that “proves” you’re not in pain
• A post about attending a social event or going on a trip while claiming limited mobility
• Comments from friends that can be taken out of context

Until your case is resolved, we recommend taking a break from posting on social media. You should also consider setting your profile to private and asking your friends and family to refrain from posting about the accident. While this may seem a little extreme, it’s crucial to keep in mind that all social media posts can be evidence, and you don’t want to accidentally harm your chances of a fair recovery.

7. They Hope You Don’t Understand the Full Value of Your Claim

Many accident victims don’t realize just how many types of damages they’re entitled to — and insurers count on that.

Your claim may include:

• Emergency room visits and surgeries
  • Hospital visits always involve more physicians than people realize
  • It’s important to uncover every bill from a visit, whether it’s from a treating physician, a radiology group, an anesthesia group, or the hospital facility itself
  • Unless you practice personal injury law in a certain geographic area and know all the different potential charges that can come from a visit to a specific hospital, bills that should be paid by an insurance company can often be inadvertently left out from a claim.
• Ongoing physical therapy or medical care
• Future lost earnings if you’re unable to return to work
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• And more

Without knowing what your claim is truly worth, you’re far more likely to accept a fraction of what you deserve. A skilled lawyer will consider all types of damages (economic, non-economic, and punitive) to make sure you’re being compensated fairly for your damages.

8. They Don’t Tell You About All Available Coverage

You might have access to more compensation than you realize, but you’ll rarely hear it from the insurance company.

For example, your own policy might include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. In other cases, there could be multiple policies at play (like a company vehicle or a family member’s insurance) that offer additional benefits. Or, maybe there’s an umbrella policy that applies to a crash that adjusters don’t initially tell you about…

Insurers typically won’t volunteer this information. You have to ask proactively or work with someone who knows how to uncover it.

9. They Track Your Medical Treatment and Use Gaps Against You

If you skip appointments, delay treatment, or stop seeing your doctor, the insurance company may argue that your injuries aren’t serious or are unrelated to the accident. This is one of the most common tactics used to deny or reduce claims.

To protect yourself, be sure to follow your provider’s treatment plan closely. Don’t miss appointments, and document every visit, prescription, and recommendation you receive. This will strengthen your case by demonstrating that your injuries are as bad as you say they are, and that you’ve been consistently working to get better.

10. They Have Data-Driven Systems to Minimize Your Payout

Today’s insurance companies don’t rely on gut instinct. They use complex algorithms and software to determine what your claim is “worth.”

While these systems have improved in recent years, they often undervalue damages that are hard to quantify, like pain, trauma, or long-term limitations. They’re designed to spit out the lowest offer the company thinks it can get away with.

In reality, your payout should take into account the impact on your quality of life, not just the “dollars and cents” damages decided on by an algorithm. Without an advocate in your corner, you may be stuck with a payout that reflects the physical injuries you suffered but neglects the equally important mental and emotional impact of a collision.

11. Having an Attorney Typically Increases Settlement Amounts

Research has consistently shown that injured people who hire an attorney receive larger settlements, even after legal fees.

An experienced personal injury lawyer:

• Knows how to calculate the true value of your claim
• Understands how to negotiate with adjusters
• Can bring in experts to support your case
• Handles all paperwork and communication so you don’t have to

In short: legal representation levels the playing field. It’s one of the most powerful tools you have, and many law firms (like ours at M. Austin Jackson) offer free, no-obligation consultations and don’t get paid unless you win.

How M. Austin Jackson Can Protect You From These Tactics

We’ve seen firsthand how insurance companies operate, and we know how to strategically push back to maximize your payout.

From the moment you contact M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers, we take over communication with the insurance company so you don’t have to, launch a thorough investigation to preserve key evidence, and work with medical providers to understand your injuries and long-term needs. Most importantly, we fight for a full and fair settlement — not just a fast one.

If you’re looking for a local legal advocate who treats you with care and respect, contact M. Austin Jackson today. We’re here to help our neighbors throughout Georgia and South Carolina get the compensation they need after an accident, and you pay us nothing unless we win your case.