We’ve spent the last two posts talking about one specific insurance tactic — the paper flood and the buried settlement release. But that’s just one move in a much larger playbook.
Insurance companies employ a wide range of strategies designed to reduce, delay, or outright deny what injured victims are owed. Some of these tactics are subtle. Some are aggressive. All of them are intentional.
Here’s what to watch for.
- The Friendly Adjuster
When you first report a claim, an insurance adjuster will typically reach out quickly — sometimes within hours. They’ll be pleasant, sympathetic, and seemingly eager to help. They’ll ask how you’re feeling and express concern for your well-being.
What they’re actually doing is building rapport so that you’ll talk freely and trust them. Everything you say is being recorded and evaluated for ways to minimize your claim. Statements like “I’m doing okay” or “it’s not that bad” can and will be used against you later to argue that your injuries were minor or that you’ve already recovered.
The adjuster works for the insurance company. Not for you. Never forget that.
- The Early Lowball Offer
Shortly after an accident — sometimes within days — the insurance company may make a settlement offer. The speed of the offer is part of the strategy. They’re reaching you before you’ve finished medical treatment, before you fully understand the extent of your injuries, and before you’ve had a chance to consult an attorney.
Early offers are almost always significantly below what the claim is actually worth. They’re designed to close the case before the full picture emerges. Once you accept and sign, that’s it — even if your medical bills double the following month.
- Delaying the Claim on Purpose
On the flip side of the early offer is deliberate delay. Some insurance companies drag their feet — requesting redundant documentation, losing paperwork, scheduling and rescheduling inspections, or simply going quiet — hoping that financial pressure will force you to accept less just to get something.
In Florida, insurance companies have specific obligations regarding how quickly they must acknowledge, investigate, and respond to claims. When they violate those timeframes, it may constitute bad faith — and that opens the door to additional remedies beyond the original claim value.
- Recorded Statements
The adjuster may ask you to give a recorded statement “just to get your side of the story.” This sounds reasonable. It isn’t — at least not without an attorney present.
Recorded statements are taken early, when you’re still shaken from the accident, before your medical treatment is complete, and before you understand the full extent of what happened. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that elicit answers that can be twisted later. A recorded statement made in good faith can become a tool used against you at every subsequent stage of the claim.
You are generally not required to give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company. Consult an attorney before agreeing to one.
- Surveillance and Social Media Monitoring
If your claim involves significant injuries, don’t be surprised if the insurance company is watching. Surveillance of claimants — both physical and digital — is a standard industry practice.
Investigators may photograph or video you at home, running errands, or at public events. Insurance companies also routinely monitor social media accounts looking for photos, check-ins, or posts that contradict your claimed limitations. A single photo of you at a family gathering, standing and smiling, can be taken completely out of context and used to challenge the severity of your injuries.
Be mindful of what you post and what others tag you in during an open claim.
- Disputing Medical Treatment as Unnecessary
Even when liability is clear, insurance companies frequently challenge whether your medical treatment was necessary or reasonable. They may hire their own doctors — called Independent Medical Examiners, though there is nothing particularly independent about them — to review your records and issue opinions that contradict your treating physicians.
These examinations are designed to generate paperwork that gives the insurance company grounds to reduce or deny payment for your care. The doctor conducting the examination is typically paid by the insurance company and has a financial incentive to find in their favor.
Having an attorney who understands how to counter these tactics and present your treating physician’s opinions effectively is critical.
- Disputing Causation
Another common tactic is arguing that your injuries were pre-existing or were not actually caused by the accident at hand. If you’ve ever had a prior injury, prior surgery, or prior complaint involving the same part of your body, expect the insurance company to point to it.
Florida law does not allow insurance companies to avoid responsibility simply because a person had a prior condition. Under the eggshell plaintiff doctrine, a defendant takes a plaintiff as they find them — meaning if the accident aggravated a pre-existing condition, they are still responsible for that aggravation. But you need someone who knows how to make that argument clearly and effectively.
- Pressuring You to Use Their Preferred Doctors or Repair Shops
After an accident, an insurance company may steer you toward their preferred medical providers or auto repair shops. While they may present these as a convenience, the reality is that preferred vendors often have financial relationships with the insurance company that create incentives to minimize findings and keep costs down.
You generally have the right to choose your own treating physician and your own repair facility. Exercise that right.
- Making the Process So Complicated You Give Up
This one doesn’t get discussed enough. Some insurance companies win simply by making the claims process exhausting. Endless forms. Repeated requests for the same documents. Confusing correspondence. Unreturned calls.
The goal is attrition. They are betting that you will eventually get tired, frustrated, and desperate enough to take whatever they offer just to make it stop.
Don’t let them outlast you.
What You Can Do
Awareness is the first step. If you recognize these tactics when you see them, you’re much harder to manipulate.
The second step is getting representation. An experienced personal injury attorney levels the playing field immediately. Insurance companies behave differently when they know an attorney is involved. Offers increase. Delays shorten. Tactics become less brazen.
At Licznerski Law, PLLC, we handle personal injury claims throughout the Tampa Bay area. We work on contingency — meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you. There is no financial risk in calling us to talk about your case.
Free Consultation — No Pressure
📞 813-934-3519 📧 [email protected] 🌐 www.licznerskilaw.com
Licznerski Law, PLLC serves clients throughout the Tampa Bay area. The consultation is free. The advice is real.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Contact our office directly to discuss the specific facts of your situation.