If you've been injured in a car accident in Massachusetts, you're likely dealing with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and the stress of recovery. While you focus on healing, insurance companies are working just as hard – but their goal isn't to help you. Whether your accident happened on Route 9 in Framingham, I-90 in Worcester, or the congested streets of downtown Boston, insurance adjusters use the same playbook to minimize what they pay out on claims throughout Massachusetts and surrounding communities.
As experienced car accident attorneys serving Boston, Framingham, Worcester, and communities across the Commonwealth, our Framingham accident lawyers have seen these tactics used countless times against our clients. Understanding how insurance companies operate is your first line of defense. Here are five common tricks insurers use to pressure Massachusetts accident victims into accepting far less than their claims are worth.
1. The "Fast Cash" Settlement Offer
One of the most common tactics insurance companies use on Massachusetts accident victims is the quick settlement offer. Within days of your crash – whether it occurred on the Mass Pike, Route 128, or local roads in Framingham, Worcester, or Boston – you may receive a call from an insurance adjuster offering a settlement check.
This tactic preys on your immediate financial stress. The adjuster knows you're facing medical bills, car repair costs, and possibly lost wages from missing work. They're betting you'll grab the quick cash before you:
- Fully understand the extent of your injuries
- Consult with a Massachusetts car accident attorney
- Learn the true value of your claim
- Discover that some injuries take days or weeks to manifest
I just spoke with a woman from Natick who was injured in a rear-end crash on the MassPike a few days ago. During our conversation, she explained how the other driver’s insurance company had been calling her and offered a one-time payment of $1,000 to settle her case because they said they felt bad about the accident and her injuries. This woman injured her left knee and lower back in the car crash. This soon after the accident, there is no way to know or determine the extent of her injuries or damages. However, if the insurance company got her to accept the $1,000 they would be potentially saving a substantial amount of money in the long run.
Once you accept and sign a release, you typically cannot reopen your claim – even if you later discover serious injuries that require extensive treatment. What may seem like reasonable compensation immediately after your accident may cover only a fraction of your actual damages.
Massachusetts victims should never accept a settlement offer without first consulting an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the true value of claims in Boston, Worcester, Framingham, and throughout the state.
2. The Recorded Statement Trap
Shortly after your accident, an insurance adjuster will likely contact you requesting a recorded statement. They'll make it sound routine and harmless: "We just need to get your side of the story for our records." This is one of the most dangerous traps for Massachusetts car accident victims.
What the adjuster doesn't tell you is that they're trained to ask leading questions designed to:
- Get you to minimize your injuries ("So you're feeling okay then?")
- Elicit statements about pre-existing conditions
- Create inconsistencies they can exploit later
- Get you to accept partial fault for the accident
Remember, the adjuster is not your friend, even if they seem sympathetic. They work for the insurance company, and their job is to protect the insurer's bottom line – not to ensure you receive fair compensation for your Boston, Framingham, Worcester, or Massachusetts accident.
You are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Before speaking with any insurance adjuster about your Massachusetts car accident, contact an experienced attorney who can protect your rights.
3. Social Media Surveillance
In today's digital age, insurance companies have added social media monitoring to their arsenal of tactics. After your accident in Massachusetts, adjusters and investigators will likely search for your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles to find anything they can use against your claim.
They're looking for photos or posts that might contradict your injury claims:
- A picture of you smiling at a family gathering (ignoring that you were in pain before and after)
- A check-in at a gym or restaurant (suggesting you're not as injured as you claim)
- A post about a weekend activity (even if you paid for it dearly with increased pain afterward)
- Comments about your accident that might be misconstrued
Even innocent posts can be taken out of context and used to argue that your injuries aren't as severe as you claim. This tactic is commonly used against accident victims throughout Massachusetts, from Boston to Worcester to Framingham and beyond.
Protect yourself by adjusting your privacy settings and avoiding posting about your accident, injuries, medical treatment, or physical activities while your Massachusetts car accident claim is pending. Better yet, take a break from social media altogether until your case is resolved.
4. Delay, Delay, Delay
Time is money for insurance companies, and they know that financial pressure is one of their most effective weapons. By deliberately delaying your Massachusetts car accident claim, insurers hope to force you into accepting a lowball settlement out of desperation.
Common delay tactics include:
- Taking weeks or months to respond to correspondence
- Repeatedly requesting "just one more document"
- Claiming they need additional time to "investigate" obvious facts
- Transferring your claim between multiple adjusters
- Scheduling and rescheduling medical examinations
Meanwhile, your bills pile up. Medical providers in Boston, Worcester, Framingham, and throughout Massachusetts are demanding payment. Your car needs repairs. You may be missing work and struggling to pay rent or your mortgage. The insurance company is counting on this financial pressure to make you desperate enough to accept whatever they offer.
An experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer can apply pressure back on the insurance company and use legal tools to prevent indefinite delays on your Worcester, Boston, Framingham, or surrounding area accident claim.
5. Disputing Your Medical Treatment
Even when insurance companies can't deny that an accident occurred or that you were injured, they often attack the necessity or reasonableness of your medical treatment. This tactic is particularly common in Massachusetts car accident cases involving soft tissue injuries, back problems, or ongoing pain.
The insurance company may:
- Hire a "independent" medical examiner (who frequently sides with insurers) to review your records
- Claim your treatment was excessive or unnecessary
- Argue that your injuries were pre-existing conditions unrelated to the accident
- Suggest you should have recovered faster
- Refuse to pay for recommended procedures or therapies
These tactics are used against accident victims throughout Massachusetts, whether you're receiving treatment in Boston hospitals, Worcester medical centers, Framingham clinics, or healthcare facilities in surrounding communities.
The goal is to reduce the medical expenses they're responsible for paying, which directly reduces the value of your claim. Insurance companies know that medical bills often constitute the largest portion of accident claims, so attacking your treatment is an effective way to minimize their payout.
Documentation is critical to building a strong personal injury case in Massachusetts. Keep detailed records of all medical appointments, follow your doctor's treatment plan exactly, and consult with a Massachusetts car accident attorney who can counter these tactics with medical evidence and expert testimony.
Protecting Your Rights After a Massachusetts Car Accident
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys working to minimize what they pay on claims. Massachusetts accident victims in Boston, Worcester, Framingham, and surrounding areas deserve to have experienced legal representation fighting just as hard for their interests.
If you've been injured in a car accident anywhere in Massachusetts, don't face the insurance company alone. Before giving any statements, accepting any settlement offers, or signing any documents, consult with an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer who knows these tactics and how to counter them.
Your initial consultation is free, and you don't pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries. Contact us today to protect your rights and pursue the full compensation you deserve for your Massachusetts car accident claim.
Don’t forget, for answers to many questions and great information on how to get the best possible settlement in your accident case, get a copy of our book: 