Nationwide Car Accident Lawyer
The History of Nationwide
The year was 1926 when a company named Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company opened its doors in Columbus, Ohio. The primary focus was to serve farmers in the state, but by the 1930s, the company was selling auto policies to folks in cities, towns and other states. In addition, the insurer started selling fire and life insurance policies.
By the early 40s, the company’s growth saw it operating in 12 states plus Washington, D.C. In 1955, the name morphed into Nationwide Insurance, and in the process, it dropped the conjecture of being for farmers and rural folk. Since changing its name, the insurer has taken over several other small companies and began offering diverse financial and insurance products.
By the year 2016, Nationwide had become the top insurer for small businesses and the top writer of policies for farms and ranches. At the same time, the company registered as the seventh-largest in homeowner policies and in commercial lines of insurance. It came in at eighth place in life insurance and auto insurance. This information is provided in Nationwide’s annual report for 2017.
Nationwide offers standard auto insurance policies as well as various optional coverage products. Consumers can purchase various types of coverages with their auto policies, including property damage liability, bodily injury liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist, med pay, and personal injury protection. Many standard policies have coverages like comprehensive, collision, gap, towing and labor, and rental. The company even has an accident forgiveness program, vanishing deductible, roadside assistance, and total loss deductible waiver.
Settlement Offer from Nationwide
When accident victims file claims with Nationwide and provide all the evidence needed to support their claims, the individuals may be somewhat shocked when Nationwide gives an offer in return that seems to make no sense at all. For example, if a person’s losses from an accident total over $100,000, how can a company like Nationwide justify offering the victim a measly $15,000?
Here’s how. When individuals who were involved in auto accidents are not represented by an attorney during the claims process with Nationwide, the company is known to systematically lowball the accident victims in hopes that the individuals will take a fraction of the amount they should receive. Many people desperately need financial compensation after such a loss and think they don’t have any choice when told the amount Nationwide is offering. But, this is not true.
When individuals take the first offer made by the insurance company, they are signing away their rights to the full amount of compensation they deserve, especially considering that bills may continue to rack up over time. Victims should not allow Nationwide to successfully use this tactic to force acceptance of the company’s low claim offer. When victims are represented by an experienced law firm, Nationwide is then forced to deal with an injury attorney who knows how to properly handle the negotiation process to obtain the amount victims rightly deserve.
Delay or Deny Tactic
The money that Nationwide obtains through premiums gets invested, so the company earns interest and increases profits. Clearly, the company wants to make as much interest money as possible on these deposits. So, it is to the company’s advantage to stall, delay and even deny valid claims in order to allow the funds to earn more interest.
During this long-time period, however, accident victims are struggling to make ends meet due to lost wages, household expenses, and past-due medical bills from their accidents. With the right attorney in their corner, however, accident victims become empowered to force Nationwide to go toe-to-toe with a legal mind who will demand that the insurance company fairly process the accident claims and move things forward in a timely manner.
Nationwide Adjusters
Auto accident victims are likely to hear a Nationwide adjuster use terminology like, “You can trust me.” Unfortunately, this can simply be a tactic used to get the individual talking. If anything is said to the adjuster by the accident victim that can be construed as an admission of fault or guilt, the insurance adjuster may try to use the statements to justify denying or lowering a claim amount. Before speaking with a Nationwide adjuster, it would behoove an accident victim to speak with a qualified injury attorney. The individual may find peace of mind and a great benefit by letting an experienced legal professional handle the issues that arise.
Contact The Eichholz Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one were the victim of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, then contact our Nationwide car accident lawyers today. Our attorneys have years of combined experience in dealing with car insurance claims and will help you through the entire litigation process.
Call 855-551-1019 or fill out an online form for a free case evaluation.