After car accidents, you may know that insurance companies often send out claims adjusters to investigate accidents and injuries. These adjusters are trained professionals who will try to settle your claim as soon as possible. They will ask questions about your medical history, the extent of your injuries, and whether anyone else was injured in the crash.
What to Know When Speaking With Insurance Adjusters
If you have been involved in an accident and have to face a claims adjustor, here are some tips for interacting with insurance adjusters to protect your personal injury claim. Do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company without first speaking with an attorney.
1. Do Not Sign Any Documents or Releases
The purpose of an Adjuster Agreement is to protect the insurance carrier from being held liable for damages caused by the adjusters’ negligence. An adjuster must advise you of what they believe is covered under your policy and how much they estimate your loss to be worth. This information is important because it helps determine whether you have coverage.
Adjusters often give out forms called releases. These releases allow the insured person to release the insurer from liability for certain claims. However, do not sign any documents or releases unless you are absolutely sure you understand what they mean and intend to sign them. Also, if you sign anything without consulting an attorney first, you could lose your ability to recover against the insurer.
2. Remain Calm and Stay Polite
It is important to remain calm and keep your cool. This will allow you to better communicate what happened. Insurers use a variety of tactics to try to make sure claims are settled quickly and without much hassle. They want to avoid paying out too many claims because this could lead to financial problems down the road.
Insurance companies often hire claims adjusters who are trained to handle situations like yours. They are there to work with you to resolve your situation as efficiently as possible. In fact, staying calm and remaining polite will likely go a long way toward ensuring your claim gets resolved fairly and quickly.
3. Only Provide Facts About the Accident
When you are asked questions by an insurance adjuster, always give truthful responses. This includes telling the truth even when you do not know something. You might think you are being helpful by providing information, but you could actually end up hurting yourself if you offer up theories or unnecessary information.
Insurance companies use a process called “claims adjustment.” They send out claims adjusters to investigate accidents and determine how much money the victim(s) deserve. These adjusters are not there to help you; they are there to collect money from you.
Only provide facts about the accident. Do not speak negatively about the other driver or their car. Do not talk about the weather or traffic conditions. Do not discuss anything else that happened while you were driving.
4. Take Notes About Your Conversation
If you are having a conversation with an insurance adjuster, it is important to take detailed notes. This way, you will know what exactly happened during the conversation. You do not want to make assumptions about how everything went down based on what others told you. Instead, you should write down everything that happens. This can include:
- The date of the conversation
- Who was present at the time (including the adjuster)
- What was said
- How the conversation progressed
- Any follow-up questions asked
- Your response to those questions
You may also want to record the name and contact information of anyone else involved in the conversation.
5. Contact a Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorney for Assistance
One of the most effective ways of ensuring your personal injury claim is properly handled by an insurance adjuster is to contact an attorney immediately. A seasoned lawyer knows how to communicate effectively with the insurer, negotiate a fair settlement, and make sure your case gets the attention it deserves.
The dedicated attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford have decades of combined legal expertise representing victims of negligence. They are skilled negotiators who know what issues must be addressed during negotiations to maximize recovery. Call us at (215) 822-7575 or submit our contact form to schedule your consultation.
