Drivers, beware! Insurance companies deliberately reduce your compensation!

Insurance companies sometimes deliberately or unintentionally reduce the compensation amount!

When vehicle damage occurs, most people are unsure what to do and first contact their insurance company. Insurers use various tactics to minimize their costs – at the expense of the affected driver. One of the most common methods is hiring their own assessors, who deliberately underestimate repair costs by ignoring actual labor and material costs. Additionally, vehicle depreciation is often applied, even for minor damage. To avoid being manipulated, we have written a comprehensive guide on damage claims, which you can read HERE.

A real-life example: A driver was “tricked” by the insurance company and had a frustrating experience. After an accident, the insurer sent their own damage assessor, who significantly underestimated the actual repair costs. The insurance company insisted that only their assessor could inspect the damage. The driver signed an authorization, unknowingly accepting a much lower amount.

For replacing the bumper of a new Mercedes, the assessor estimated only 800 euros – a clear underestimation. Later, the vehicle owner learned that he had the right to hire an independent damage assessor.

Every affected driver has the right to hire an independent assessor who will objectively determine the actual repair cost and help secure fair compensation from the insurance company. Furthermore, drivers have the right to choose their own repair shop. HERE  you can find our tips for selecting the right workshop.

Common tactics used by insurers to reduce payouts:

Underestimating repair costs:

• • Insurance-appointed assessors deliberately undervalue repairs.
  • Lower labor and material costs than actual market prices.
  • Ignoring hidden damages that only become visible during repair.

Reducing vehicle value:

• • • Applying depreciation to replaced parts, even if they are brand new.
    • Declaring a total loss and paying only the pre-accident market value.
    • Disregarding additional equipment or modifications.

Delaying compensation payments:

• • Requesting additional documents unnecessarily.
  • Ignoring claims or responding slowly.
  • Offering lower payouts, hoping the claimant will accept due to urgency.

Disputing liability:

• • Trying to shift blame onto the affected driver.
  • Interpreting policy terms to benefit the insurer.
  • Claiming shared responsibility.

Steering towards partner workshops:

• • Forcing repairs in affiliated workshops that use cheaper parts.

One driver, previously undercompensated, later hired independent assessor Asim Mrković for his next accident. The rear bumper repair was assessed at 2.300 euros – and he received full compensation.

Don’t let the insurance companies deceive you, get informed and hire a professional appraiser in order to receive fair compensation, contact Asim Mrkovic today!