Over
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Houston Personal Injury Lawyer
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Chi-Hung
Attorney Nguyen
Houston Personal Injury Lawyer
We Know How Insurance Companies Really Work—And How to Beat Them
Every year, insurance companies pay out billions less than injured Texans deserve—not because claims lack merit, but because most people don’t know how the system actually works. Insurance adjusters follow internal playbooks designed to minimize payouts. They’re trained to exploit mistakes victims make in the first 72 hours after an accident. At The Nguyen Injury Law Firm, we’ve studied these tactics extensively. We know what insurance claims manuals say. We understand the computer systems that calculate your claim’s value. And we use that knowledge to fight for maximum compensation.
With over $200 million recovered for injured Texans, our results speak for themselves—but it’s our understanding of the insurance industry’s inner workings that makes those results possible.
What Insurance Companies Don't Want You to Know
We Know How Insurance Companies Really Work—And How to Beat Them
The Adjuster Is Not Your Friend
When an insurance adjuster calls you after an accident, they sound sympathetic. They express concern about your injuries. They promise to “take care of everything.” What they don’t tell you is that their job performance is measured by how much money they save the company—not by how fairly they treat you.
Insurance claims manuals used by major carriers make this objective clear: every settlement must be justified, and adjusters will not risk their job security to close a file quickly or avoid litigation. The adjuster who seems so helpful has been trained to gather information that can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
The Recorded Statement Trap
One of the first things an adjuster will request is a “routine” recorded statement. This is presented as a simple procedural matter. In reality, your statement will be analyzed for any inconsistency or admission that can be used against you—even months or years later.
Here’s what adjusters know that you don’t: if you’re asked about your injuries, you might describe how you feel that day and forget to mention the neck pain that resolved after two weeks, the bruises that have faded, or the headaches that went away. Later, when those injuries appear in your medical records, you’ll be forced to explain why you “failed to mention” them in your statement. This inconsistency becomes grounds for reducing your claim.
The Property Damage Strategy
Insurance companies have discovered a powerful tactic: lowball your vehicle’s repair estimate, then use that low number to argue you couldn’t have been seriously injured. The bodily injury adjuster works closely with the property damage adjuster, hoping the vehicle appraisal comes in low enough to undermine your injury claim.
Many carriers now assign one adjuster to handle both your property damage and bodily injury claims—giving them direct incentive to undervalue your vehicle repairs so they can later say: “The damage was minor, so your injuries must be minor too.”
The “Reasonable” Settlement Offer
That first settlement offer? It’s calculated to be just high enough that you might accept it—and just low enough to save the insurance company significant money. Industry insiders know that an offer you “can’t refuse” is almost never the best you can do. If the adjuster is offering a number without hesitation, you can be certain there’s more money available.
Some insurance carriers have formal procedures for systematically underpaying claims. They know most people will accept lowball offers rather than fight. They know most attorneys will settle rather than go to trial. Only firms willing to litigate—and with the track record to prove it—can consistently secure maximum compensation.
- Past Career Results$16 Million
Semi-Truck Incident Resulting in the Wrongful Death of a Child
- Past Career Results$2 Million
Workplace Incident causing a serious leg injury
- Past Career Results$1.65 Million
Rear end Collision resulting in spine surgery
- Past Career results$1 Million
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How We Fight These Tactics
How We Fight Insurance Company Tactics
We Prepare for War—Even When We’re Negotiating Peace
Insurance companies treat claims from unrepresented individuals very differently than claims from attorneys with trial experience. They track which lawyers actually take cases to trial and which ones always settle. They know that attorneys who won’t litigate can’t credibly threaten to do so.
At The Nguyen Injury Law Firm, we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. We conduct thorough investigations immediately—before evidence disappears. We secure witness statements while memories are fresh. We preserve documentation that insurance companies might later claim doesn’t exist. When we negotiate, we negotiate from strength.
We Understand Their Computer Systems
Many major insurance carriers use a computer program called Colossus to evaluate claims. Adjusters input information about your injuries, treatment, and circumstances, and the system generates settlement ranges. These computerized valuations often ignore factors that make your case unique—your specific pain experience, how your injuries have affected your daily life, your individual circumstances.
We know how these systems work. We know what inputs drive higher valuations. We document claims in ways that ensure the full value of your injuries is captured—not minimized by an algorithm designed to save the insurance company money.
We Document to Their Standards
Insurance adjusters must justify every payment to their supervisors. They cannot approve settlements without proper documentation in the file. We work with this reality rather than against it.
We create comprehensive demand packages that include every element adjusters need to secure settlement authority: detailed medical documentation showing the progression of treatment, narrative reports from treating physicians addressing causation and permanency, employer verification of lost wages, documentation of every expense you’ve incurred, and compelling presentations of your pain and suffering.
When we submit a demand, the adjuster has everything needed to recommend the settlement we’re requesting. We make it easy for them to say yes—while making it very difficult for them to say no.
We Know When to Fight
Some insurance companies have reputations for never making fair offers without litigation. We know which carriers fall into this category. When we take on cases involving these companies, we’re prepared to file suit immediately rather than waste months in fruitless negotiations.
We also know the optimal timing for settlement negotiations. Insurance adjusters have quotas. Companies have fiscal year pressures. Understanding when adjusters are most motivated to resolve claims gives us leverage that other attorneys miss.
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THE TACTICS ADJUSTERS USE TO REDUCE YOUR CLAIM
Insurance Adjuster Tactics Every Accident Victim Should Know
Stonewalling and Delay
“Benefits delayed are benefits denied.” Insurance companies know that time works in their favor. The longer they wait, the more desperate you become. The more your bills pile up, the more likely you are to accept a low offer just to make the calls stop.
Common delay tactics include: • Requesting the same documents multiple times • “Losing” paperwork you’ve already submitted • Assigning your claim to new adjusters repeatedly • Claiming they need “additional investigation” indefinitely • Making you navigate a “claims maze” where no one has authority to make decisions
In documented cases, insurance companies have deliberately delayed claims for months—even years—knowing that financial pressure would force claimants to accept pennies on the dollar.
The Medical Records Fishing Expedition
When you sign that “standard” medical authorization form, you may be giving the insurance company access to your entire medical history—not just records related to your accident. They’ll search for any pre-existing condition they can use to argue your current injuries weren’t caused by the accident.
That back pain you mentioned to a doctor five years ago? They’ll claim your current back injury is just a “pre-existing condition.” The anxiety you discussed with your physician? They’ll argue your emotional distress isn’t related to the accident.
The “Independent” Medical Examination
If your claim is significant, the insurance company will likely request that you attend an “independent medical examination.” The name is misleading. These doctors are hired and paid by insurance companies. They understand that their continued business depends on providing opinions that favor the insurance company.
These examinations often result in reports that minimize your injuries, question the necessity of your treatment, or claim you’ve recovered more fully than your treating physicians believe.
Surveillance and Social Media Monitoring
Insurance companies routinely hire investigators to follow claimants. They’re looking for any activity that contradicts your reported injuries—playing with your children, carrying groceries, attending a family gathering. Even ordinary activities can be edited into surveillance footage that makes you look less injured than you claim.
They also monitor social media accounts. That photo of you smiling at a birthday party? They’ll argue you can’t be in that much pain. That check-in at a restaurant? Evidence that you’re not as disabled as you claim. Everything you post can and will be used against you.
Our Houston Personal Injury Practice Areas
The Nguyen Injury Law Firm represents clients throughout Houston and surrounding Harris County communities in a wide range of personal injury matters. Our extensive experience with Texas personal injury law allows us to effectively handle even the most complex cases.
Truck Accidents
Car Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Uber & Lyft Accidents
Pedestrian Accidents
Dog Bite Injuries
Serving Injured Texans Throughout Greater Houston
Texas Top Injury Lawyers
Hiring The Nguyen Law Firm means you get more than a lawyer. You get a whole legal team dedicated to winning maximum compensation for you.
Laura Ortiz
SAlly Tran
Yajaira Cardoza-Diaz
Jenny Gutierrez
Marlene Servin
Karina Martinez
Estephanie Baro
Phillip Nguyen
Liliana Rodriguez
Yaritza Alonzo
Liliana Rodriguez
Liliana Rodriguez
YOUR QUESTIONS
ANSWERED
Following an accident, there are always more questions than answers. At The Nguyen Law Firm, we're here to answer any questions you have about your injury case.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Houston?
Texas law generally gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, several critical factors can affect this deadline:
- Claims against government entities (including the City of Houston, Harris County, TxDOT, or METRO) may require notice within as few as 90 days
- Medical malpractice claims have specific rules about when the limitations period begins
- Claims involving minor children may be tolled until they reach age 18
- Discovery rules may extend deadlines in cases where injuries weren’t immediately apparent
More importantly, waiting to pursue your claim—even if you’re within the legal deadline—can seriously harm your case. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget details or move away. Insurance companies note how long you waited to take action and use that delay to argue you weren’t seriously injured.
We’ve seen countless cases where delays of just a few months made the difference between maximum compensation and a compromised settlement. If you’ve been injured, the time to act is now.
What compensation can I recover in a Houston personal injury case?
Texas law allows injury victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include:
- All medical expenses—past, present, and future—including hospital stays at Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, or other facilities, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and ongoing care
- Lost wages from time missed at work
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work in the future
- Property damage, including vehicle repairs or replacement
- Out-of-pocket expenses like medical equipment, home modifications, and transportation costs
Non-economic damages compensate you for:
- Physical pain and suffering—both what you’ve already experienced and what you’ll endure in the future
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life when injuries prevent activities you once enjoyed
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
In cases involving drunk driving or especially reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.
What many people don’t realize is that insurance companies use computer systems to generate settlement ranges that often undervalue these damages—especially pain and suffering. Our job is to document your claim in ways that capture its full value, not the minimized value an algorithm produces.
What if I was partially at fault for my Houston accident?
Texas follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means you can recover damages if you’re 50% or less responsible for the accident, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Here’s what insurance companies know that you might not: adjusters are trained to shift blame to reduce or eliminate payments. Even in clear-cut cases, they’ll look for any argument that you share responsibility.
Common tactics include:
- Claiming you were speeding (even slightly) or distracted
- Arguing you failed to take evasive action
- Suggesting you weren’t wearing a seatbelt (which can reduce damages in Texas)
- Using statements from your recorded interview against you
This is another reason why having experienced legal representation matters. We know how to counter these blame-shifting tactics and protect your right to fair compensation.
Should I talk to the insurance company after my Houston accident?
We strongly recommend against giving recorded statements or signing documents from insurance companies without legal representation. Here’s why:
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals. They know exactly what questions to ask to get answers that can be used to reduce your claim. They’re not trying to help you—they’re trying to build a file that justifies paying you as little as possible.
Specific traps to avoid:
- Recorded statements: These can be used to find inconsistencies months later. If you forget to mention an injury that later appears in your medical records, they’ll claim you’re exaggerating.
- Broad medical authorizations: These give insurers access to your entire medical history, where they’ll search for any pre-existing condition to blame for your current injuries.
- Quick settlement offers: Early offers are calculated to close your claim before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept, you can’t go back—even if your injuries turn out to be much worse than initially apparent.
- Property damage settlements: Accepting a low vehicle repair estimate can be used to argue your injuries must also be minor.
The safest approach is to report only the basic facts of the accident, decline to give detailed statements, and refer all further communication to your attorney.
How much does it cost to hire a Houston personal injury attorney?
The Nguyen Injury Law Firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning:
- No upfront costs or hourly fees
- We only get paid if we win your case
- Our fee is a percentage of your recovery, clearly explained in our agreement
- We advance all case expenses, which are reimbursed from the settlement or verdict
This arrangement allows anyone in Houston to access quality legal representation regardless of
financial situation.Why shouldn't I accept the first settlement offer?
Initial settlement offers are carefully calculated to be just attractive enough that you might accept—and just low enough to save the insurance company significant money.
Industry insiders know that “an offer you can’t refuse is almost never the best you can do.” If an adjuster is making an offer without hesitation, there’s almost certainly more money available in the claim reserves.
Insurance companies make early offers for strategic reasons:
- They want to close your claim before you understand its full value
- They know your medical condition may worsen over time
- They understand that financial pressure makes people accept less than they deserve
- They want a signed release before you have legal representation
In one documented case, an insurance company offered $12,500 to a claimant facing financial hardship. After litigation, that same claim settled for $40,000—more than three times the initial offer. The insurance company knew the claim was worth more; they were simply betting the claimant would accept less.
Never accept any settlement offer without first understanding the full extent of your injuries and consulting with an experienced attorney who can evaluate what your claim is actually worth.