Insurance adjusters play a pivotal role in the insurance sector, evaluating claims, establishing the insurer’s liability, and settling claims accordingly. They conduct investigations to determine fault, confirm the validity of claims, and compute fair payouts.
Remember, an adjuster’s allegiance is to the insurance company, not you. Irrespective of whether they represent your own insurance company or the other driver’s, their primary objective is to minimize the payout on the claim.
This process can be complex for the claimant when there were injuries in the accident. In this scenario, a personal injury lawyer steps in, offering a free consultation, case guidance, and legal representation. They advocate on behalf of the claimant, bridging the gap between the injured party and the insurance company.
In this Article
What Should You Do If An Adjuster Calls?
The answer depends on whether you were injured in the accident. The information you provide to the adjuster will vary if there is only property damage and you need to get your car repaired.
When you receive a call and have been seriously injured in auto accident, there are additional considerations to protect your interests. In both cases, it’s important to be polite and professional.
What to Do When Insurance Company Adjusters Call and You’ve Been Injured
When an insurance adjuster calls following an accident, exercise caution. Though appearing sympathetic, their aim is to minimize the payout, potentially using your information against you. They might even encourage admission of fault.
It’s important to retain an experienced car accident lawyer to advocate for you. They handle all claims adjuster interactions and negotiations, and manage the claims process to maximize the payment your receive.
Let the claims adjuster know that you have engaged a lawyer to represent you. Ask for their contact information and in return, share your attorney’s contact details with them.
What Should You NOT Say to an Adjuster?
Avoid these pitfalls when dealing with an adjuster:
Fault Admission: Never accept blame.
Health Remarks: Don’t speculate on injury severity.
Settlement Talks: Don’t negotiate without legal advice.
Recorded Statements: Refuse these without lawyer present.
Personal Info: Only give necessary contact details.
Form Signing: Don’t sign anything without your lawyer’s review.
What to Say if They Ask for a Recorded Statement
Assert your rights when asked for a recorded statement by an insurance adjuster. There’s no obligation for you to provide this, especially when a police report already outlines the incident details. Refer the claims adjuster to your attorney for further discussions. Frequent insurance calls usually stop once the insurance claims adjuster is aware of your legal representation.
Don’t Discuss Your Injuries
Insurance adjusters might seem sincerely interested in your injuries, but their real goal is to collect details that could lessen your injury’s perceived severity, potentially prompt you to accept fault, and lower your settlement.
For example, if you talk about your back pain and agree to a recorded statement, they may consider this the only injury from the accident, disregarding future serious medical bills.
Instead, a safer response could be, “I was injured and am currently seeing doctors. Please contact my attorney.”
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help with Insurance Claims Adjusters?
The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers is a Chicago-based personal injury law firm that represents victims of accidents seeking fair compensation for their injuries.
We manage all aspects of insurance claims involving injuries caused by another driver’s negligence or recklessness. We oversee all aspects of the claim including negotiating with insurance companies for the best settlement offer, identifying at-fault parties, and, if claims adjusters negotiate in bad faith, take the case to court.
What to Do When Insurance Company Adjusters Call and There Is NO Injury
A personal injury claim and a property damage claim are two distinct types of claims filed after a car accident. Personal injury claims seek compensation for injuries sustained in an accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and more.
In contrast, as explained by Andrew Kryder in the video series Car Accident Property Damage: How-to Guide, a property damage claim is specifically for repair or replacement of your vehicle. When involved in a car accident without injuries, you must communicate with the adjuster to process your insurance claim, provide the police report detailing the accident, and share necessary, accurate information in a timely manner. A recorded statement is optional, given the existence of the police report from the accident.
Don’t ignore the call, expecting auto-processing of your car insurance claim, but do follow Andy’s coaching in Car Accident Property Damage: How-to Guide.
When Will the Insurance Adjuster Call?
The insurance adjuster should contact you shortly after the accident. Respond promptly to their phone calls or messages for efficient processing of your claim.
Should I Keep Calling an Unresponsive Insurance Adjuster?
Keep calling. The adjuster must keep you informed about progress on your claim and address any questions you have.
What if the Adjuster Isn’t Calling Me Back
If the insurance companies’ adjuster isn’t responding, contact your insurance agent or the company directly. Persistent issues with the insurance company or its adjusters can be reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI). An IDOI complaint threat may expedite a delayed response.
What Questions Should You Ask an Adjuster?
When you’re dealing with an insurance adjuster after an accident where there is just property damage, here are some questions you’ll want to get answers to:
How much insurance coverage do I have for property damage in my insurance policy?
How do you decide on the amount of the estimate?
How do you determine the value of the repair or totaled vehicle?
How long will it take to process my claim?
Advocate for Yourself and Your Car’s Value
It is also important to remember to be an advocate for yourself. Bluebook values for your vehicle may not include important factors like your car’s low mileage, good condition, and aftermarket features. It’s up to you to make sure this is taken into account by the insurance company.
Find Reasonable Vehicle Comparisons
The price of used cars is accelerating and property damage assessments aren’t keeping pace. So, estimates for the value of your vehicle might not reflect the current used car market. Look for comparable vehicles within 15 miles of your location. Just like in the housing market, this comp can give you a bargaining point to make sure you are fully compensated for your vehicle.
If an insurance adjuster calls you after an accident, it's important to retain an experienced lawyer to advocate for you.
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