When you’re in an accident, the other party’s insurance company will most likely call you. When they do, it’s in your best interest to refer them directly to your personal injury lawyer without saying anything about the crash. Insurance adjusters – no matter what the commercials say – aren’t really on your side. In fact, they have one job: to pay you as little as possible, even if you’re seriously injured. If an insurance adjuster calls you, here’s what you need to know.
What Does an Insurance Adjuster Do?
Insurance adjusters investigate personal injury claims to determine how much their own insurance company should pay you for the loss. An adjuster’s job is to be friendly and caring over the phone – that way, you’ll loosen up and talk about the accident. If all goes well (for the adjuster, that is), you’ll say something that sounds like you’re taking responsibility for the crash.
Related: Could you file a car accident lawsuit?
3 Common Tactics Insurance Adjusters Use
You should absolutely avoid talking to an insurance adjuster. If one calls you, your best bet is to refer them to your attorney. Check out these three common tactics – and what happens when they’re successful – so you know what you’re up against:
- Immediate contact
- Friendly chat
- Recorded statements
Here’s a closer look at each.
#1. Immediate Contact
Insurance adjusters want to get in touch with you before you contact an attorney, so you can expect to hear from one very quickly after your accident. Research has shown that victims who work with a personal injury lawyer get between two and five times more money in damages than those who don’t have an attorney. Generally, adjusters will call you before you even know the full extent of your injuries… and certainly before you have a chance to contact a lawyer.
2. Friendly Chat
Insurance adjusters are trained to be friendly. Their main goal is to chat with you and strike up a friendly conversation – a conversation in which you might give up little details about the accident that make it seem like it was your fault (or that you were more at-fault than you really were). Adjusters use the information you provide to minimize, delay or even outright deny your claim.
#3. Recorded Statements
Many insurance adjusters tell you that a recorded statement is just a matter of routine. However, it’s not – and you should avoid giving a recorded statement, because doing so could damage your claim. Your best bet is to refer any insurance adjuster directly to your attorney. Your personal injury lawyer will talk to the insurance adjuster for you in order to get you the best possible outcome.
Do You Need to Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer About an Insurance Adjuster’s Call?
If an insurance adjuster has tried to call you, or if you’ve been in an accident and haven’t yet heard from an adjuster, we may be able to help you. Call us right now for a free consultation – we’ll answer your questions and help you start moving forward.