The one who doesn’t cry doesn’t get fed: why insisting the wrong way doesn’t improve an insurance claim

You may have heard this saying all your life: “The one who doesn’t cry doesn’t get fed.”

It is a popular expression that still circulates because, to some extent, it reflects reality: in many areas of life, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you manage to defend.

So it’s fair to ask: what does this have to do with insurance claims? The answer is simple: a lot.

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In insurance claims, as in negotiations, no one starts with their best offer

Think about it for a moment.

When was the last time someone told you: “You’re being underpaid, I’m giving you a 50% raise”?

Usually, it works the other way around: • you negotiate • you compare alternatives • you bring arguments • or you leave

Insurance claims work the same way. Insurers do not start by offering the maximum, because if the policyholder accepts a low offer without questioning it, the file is closed quickly and the insurer saves money.

Up to this point, the logic seems clear.

The real problem comes next.

Knowing this is not enough (and can be frustrating)

Understanding that insurers negotiate downwards does not make you a good negotiator.

In fact, the opposite often happens: the policyholder becomes frustrated, insists without a strategy, talks too much and ends up weakening their position.

Because claiming properly is not the same as insisting constantly.

This is one of the reasons why many claims are poorly handled or directly denied. In insurance claims denied: real cases, we explain how this happens and how it can be reversed in practice: https://mataseguros.com/blog/reclamaciones-denegadas-casos-reales

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Why insisting without a strategy often works against you

At MataSeguros we see many cases where the problem is not the damage itself, but how communication with the insurer has been handled.

It is common for policyholders to: • give too many explanations over the phone • provide information that was never requested • make assumptions out loud • talk about previous noises, maintenance or temporary fixes

All of this, even when said in good faith, becomes part of the claim file and can be used against the policyholder.

Insurers do not listen like ordinary people. They listen looking for: • contradictions • possible exclusions • arguments to close or limit the claim

These mistakes are usually due to lack of knowledge of the process. In common mistakes when claiming insurance, we explain the most frequent errors that reduce compensation: https://mataseguros.com/blog/evita-errores-al-reclamar-seguro

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Insisting is not the same as claiming properly

Insisting may be necessary, but only when done correctly.

Insisting without strategy often leads to: • contradictions in the file • premature closure of the claim • more restrictive valuations • unnecessary emotional exhaustion

Claiming properly means knowing what to say, when to say it and how to document it.

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When insisting does make sense

There are situations where insisting is necessary, for example when: • the insurer does not respond within reasonable timeframes • the assessment does not reflect the real extent of the damage • a claim is closed without technical justification

Even then, insisting without structure is counterproductive. When insurers delay or stop responding, doing it wrong can make things worse. In my insurer does not respond: what to do, we explain how to act without weakening your position: https://mataseguros.com/blog/mi-aseguradora-no-contesta-que-hacer

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Negotiating well is not about shouting louder, but being better prepared

A well-managed claim relies on: • clear documentation • technical arguments • control of timing and communication channels • knowledge of the policy and the process

This is not intuition. It is experience.

At MataSeguros we work with teams that have spent years negotiating complex claims, both in Spain and in the United States, in environments where: • time is used as pressure • “final offers” are rarely final • and policyholders usually start at a disadvantage

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Professionalising a claim is protecting the policyholder

Just as you would seek an experienced specialist in a hospital, complex insurance claims require expertise, not louder insistence.

Our work consists of: • structuring claims correctly • avoiding mistakes that cannot be undone later • negotiating from a solid position • protecting policyholders from emotional and financial strain

It is not about fighting insurers for the sake of it, but about balancing an unequal relationship.

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Conclusion

The saying contains some truth, but applied without judgment it can be harmful.

In insurance claims, the one who cries the most is not always the one who gets paid more. Those who understand the process, avoid mistakes and claim strategically usually achieve better results.

Claiming better is not insisting more. It is doing it with knowledge, order and technical criteria.