If you were in a car accident and have reported it to your insurance company, then you’re probably going to be contacted from the other side’s insurance company within the first few days after the incident. One of the goals of an insurance adjuster is to get you to accept a settlement offer, before you even understand the value of what your injury claim might be worth. The adjuster isn’t going to wait long to speak with you, and is actually hoping to close your claim as fast as possible.
The adjuster may try to do a live call with you and record what you say, as a way to get you to make statements about the accident or your injuries, that would then affect your claim. It can be difficult to take back the words you have said, even if you didn’t mean what you intended to during the conversation. Basically, the adjuster wants to use your words against you, and may misconstrue them intentionally to reduce or deny your claim. As a car accident attorney from Glotzer & Leib, LLP warns, the adjuster may take advantage of the opportunity to pressure you into accepting a settlement offer, one that is often too early and too low.
If there is one thing that you must remember after the car accident, it’s that every interaction you have could have an effect on your claim. Insurance adjusters only focus on the best interest of their company, and not your wellbeing. Even if an insurance adjuster comes off very friendly and concerned about how you’re doing, don’t fall for this. It is the objective of an insurance adjuster to get you to accept the very lowest amount of money possible in the quickest time frame.
So now that you are privy to this information about insurance adjusters and how they operate, you still have to be calm and polite. You may be angry about the fact that they are calling and trying to take advantage of your situation, and upset about the fact that you were in an accident that wasn’t your fault to begin with. Taking out your frustrations on an insurance adjuster won’t actually help you get a fair settlement. Because the adjuster is someone who handles your claim, how you treat them will be important. It may seem silly to have to be respectful to an insurance adjuster when they are probably trying to ruin your claim, but it is still an insurance process so you will need to stay as cool and collected as you can.
You can always have your lawyer handle the conversation with the insurance adjuster instead, so that you don’t have to worry about it. It may be a wise choice to have a legal team guide you through the process of handling your car accident claim, to prevent ill-intentioned parties, like insurance companies, from taking advantage. Many people forget that in the aftermath of a car wreck, or other personal injury accident, just how helpful a lawyer can be in advocating for their client’s compensation, health, and future; contact one near you today!