Insurance companies play hardball with accident victims

Dale Emch

Contributor

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Insurance companies are notorious for trying to low-ball people who have been injured in auto accidents instead of paying them a fair amount for their injuries. Personal injury attorneys have been saying this for years, but the insurance company lobbyists and the politicians they persuade have done a masterful job of painting accident victims as greedy cheaters. It's the same story in Toledo as in the rest of the country.

Every once in a while, reporters will put together stories showing how unfairly some insurance companies treat people with legitimate injuries just so they can drive up their profits. CNN recently produced a story about how insurance companies - particularly Allstate and State Farm - routinely push accident victims to settle claims for less than their worth.

While the story is illuminating, the insurance companies will continue to put profits over people as long as legislators are willing to put business interests ahead of consumers. That's why it's so important to consult with a lawyer if you've been injured in an automobile accident. You need a professional to help you protect your interests because generally the opposing insurance company will be looking to dump your case as quickly and cheaply as possible. It's a sad-but-true lesson that too many crash victims learn the hard way.