Being in a car crash is overwhelming. You’re dealing with injuries, mounting medical bills, and endless phone calls from the insurance company. They’ll act like they’re on your side, promising to take care of everything—but are they really looking out for you?
The truth is, insurance companies are businesses, and their priority is their bottom line—not your well-being. They use sneaky tactics to pay you as little as possible, hoping you’ll accept a lowball offer before you realize what your case is truly worth.
At the Marc Lopez Law Firm, we’ve seen these tricks firsthand. Here are the five most common ways insurance companies try to take advantage of car crash victims in Indiana—and what you can do to fight back.
1. The Quick Settlement Trap
One of the most common tricks insurance companies use is offering a fast settlement. At first, this might seem like a relief—money in your pocket right away. But here’s the catch: they want you to take the money before you know the full extent of your injuries.
We’ve seen it time and time again. Clients come to us after being offered $5,000, only to later realize their medical bills are closer to $75,000. If you accept a quick settlement and later discover you need more medical treatment, you’re out of luck. Once you sign that release, the insurance company is off the hook—even if your injuries get worse.
What to do instead:
- Never accept a settlement without understanding your full medical prognosis.
- Speak with an attorney before signing anything.
- Remember, quick money now could mean big losses later.
Variation of Scam: The offer to pay a “quick settlement” plus future related medicals. While this may seem like a good deal it is only a good deal for the insurance company as it limits the ability for you to recover for pain and suffering if the injury turns out worse that it initially appears.
2. The Waiting Game: Delay, Deny, Defend
Insurance companies love to drag things out. Their strategy is simple:
- Delay—They make you wait, hoping your financial situation forces you to settle for less.
- Deny—They dispute liability, claim your injuries aren’t serious, or say you got too much medical treatment.
- Defend—If you file a lawsuit, they aggressively fight back, trying to make the process as difficult as possible.
Their goal is to wear you down until you give up. If your case isn’t moving forward, it’s not by accident—it’s a strategy.
What to do instead:
- Keep detailed records of all communication.
- If things stall, talk to an attorney about filing a lawsuit—this forces the insurance company to take you seriously.
- Stay patient, but don’t let them control the timeline.
3. The Insurance Policy Shell Game
When an insurance adjuster tells you, “This is all the coverage available,” don’t take their word for it. Insurance companies never volunteer additional coverage unless they have to.
For example, we had a case where a woman was hit by a car and told there was only $25,000 in available coverage. After digging deeper, we uncovered additional policies—including her own underinsured motorist coverage—and secured over $2.5 million in compensation.
What to do instead:
- Demand written proof of all available insurance policies.
- Ask about underinsured motorist coverage, umbrella policies, and other potential sources of compensation.
- An experienced attorney can find coverage the insurance company won’t tell you about.
4. The Bureaucracy Trick: Red Tape & Excuses
Another common tactic? Blaming “company policy” to justify low offers. Adjusters will say things like:
- “I can only authorize two months of treatment.”
- “My boss won’t let me go any higher.”
- “You had a back issue two years ago, so this injury isn’t related.”
They use this bureaucratic runaround to make it seem like their hands are tied. But the truth is, they have plenty of flexibility—they just don’t want to use it on your claim.
What to do instead:
- Don’t accept “policy” excuses at face value.
- Push back—ask for written explanations of any denials.
- Have an attorney deal with the insurance company so you don’t get worn down by their tactics.
5. The Computer Algorithm Scam
Insurance companies use computer programs to calculate settlement offers, claiming, “This is what the algorithm says your case is worth.” But here’s the reality:
- Algorithms don’t consider how your injuries affect your life.
- They’re designed to save the insurance company money.
- Juries, not computers, decide case values in court.
At the Marc Lopez Law Firm, we don’t let a computer tell us what your case is worth. We look at real jury verdicts in Indiana and nationwide to demand what you truly deserve.
What to do instead:
- Don’t trust an insurance company’s “computer-generated” offer.
- Get a real evaluation based on past jury awards.
- Remember, a low algorithm number doesn’t mean that’s all you can get.
How to Protect Yourself After an Indiana Car Crash
Insurance companies use these five dirty tricks because they work—unless you know how to fight back.
If you’ve been in a car crash in Indiana, here’s how to protect your rights:
- Don’t accept a quick settlement before knowing your full injuries.
- Document everything—insurance calls, medical visits, lost wages.
- Watch out for delay tactics. If your claim isn’t moving forward, something’s wrong.
- Demand written proof of all available insurance coverage.
- Don’t let a computer program decide your case value.
Why Choose the Marc Lopez Law Firm?
At the Marc Lopez Law Firm, we know how frustrating it is to deal with an injury while also fighting an insurance company that doesn’t play fair. That’s why we do everything possible to take that stress off your shoulders.
We’ve helped countless clients get the compensation they deserve after a car crash—often far more than what the insurance company originally offered.
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a car crash in Indiana, you don’t have to face the insurance company alone.
Call us today at 463-283-7387 for a free consultation. Let’s turn your frustration into compensation.
