The insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, and they do not work for you.Think of them as adversaries because if there is ever any dispute, they will be opposing you. Remember, insurance adjusters keep the best interest of the insurance company in mind throughout your dealings with them. You may not know how they work. You should be careful about what you say to the claims adjusters because they can use anything you say against you. If you make a mistake they will take the opportunity to use the mistake against you. Forget about the insurance company commercials gimmicks that portray the insurance company as a good neighbor or you’re in good hands.
For example, after a car accident the insurance adjusters will take a statement from you, which they are prepared to take. The questions can be tricky. In the end, the adjuster is an adversary that will negotiate for the insurance company’s best interest. How can you ever believe the insurance adjuster is on your side during negotiations? The adjuster’s primary goal is to settle the claim by paying you as little money as possible to save the insurance company money
1. KNOW THE INSURANCE BENEFITS YOU SEEK UNDER THE POLICY BEFORE TO TALK TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER
You should know your insurance policy before you make a claim. The insurance adjuster will want to know what you are claiming under the insurance policy. Sometimes the adjuster will tell you what the policy covers and then ask you if you are claiming, but you may not be prepared to answer these questions. You should consult an experienced auto accident no fault insurance lawyer to explain your rights under the policy before you talk to the claims adjuster.
2. NEVER ADMIT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT
You should avoid admitting fault for the accident, especially if you don’t know all of the facts about the accident. You should wait for a full investigation and understanding of the facts. Insurance adjusters are always analyzing the exposure the insurance company has in the claim, so they are looking for ways to limit the insurance company’s payout exposure. If you admit fault, you will no chance of proving you were not at fault if you find out through investigation that you were not at fault. You may not know all of the facts about the accident, such as witnesses, and other factors that led to the accident. You may be only partially at fault, so best to wait for a full investigation by your experienced auto accident lawyer to analyze the factors that led to the accident.
3. DON’T SPECULATE ABOUT HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED
Many times, you may not have all of the facts about what happened. You should wait for a full investigation into the cause of the accident before you speculate about how the accident happened. If you speculate wrongly, you will hurt your claim because the statement can be used to discredit you. You should always answer questions directly Keep your answers to the adjuster’s questions as concise as possible. You should always tell the truth, but do not volunteer information you have not been asked.
If you are unsure about an answer, do not guess, but instead say you are unsure or don’t know. Giving inaccurate statements can come back to hurt your claim
4. GIVING DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INJURIES
You are best served if you tell the insurance adjuster all of your injuries and symptoms, even if you felt them temporarily. You should expect to be asked about your injuries and medical treatment. You should be prepared by making a list of your injuries and medical providers. Our law firm always recommends to our client that you refer the adjuster to your auto accident before you disclose information about your injuries. You should discuss your injuries with your Detroit car accident lawyer before talking to the insurance company. Injuries can develop over time so waiting to see what the full extent of your injuries are may be wise. Sometimes your doctors are still testing to figure out your injuries so waiting may give you time to find out about your injuries. Oftentimes, the insurance adjuster assumes Otherwise, the adjuster may assume your injuries are minor, if you can’t them your diagnosis
5. DO NOT GIVE A RECORDED STATEMENT
You don’t have any legal obligation to agree to give a recorded statement to a claims adjuster. Most will ask you to do so in the hopes that you will agree. You have a right to refuse the recording of your statement. The adjuster cannot legally record you without your permission. You should protect your rights because the adjuster will use your statement against you. Often times recorded statements are transcribed and parts of the statement can be inaudible, completely changing or obscuring your statement. All these reasons, give you good reason to reject a recorded statement.
6. DO NOT ACCEPT THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OFFER
Finally, if you do your own settlement negotiations with the insurance company, you should reject the first settlement offer. You may not know what your claim is worth. You are best served if you take advantage of a free consult with an experienced Detroit auto accident attorney about what your case could be worth. Sometimes, the insurance adjuster will try to pressure you into accepting the offer, by saying this is my last and final offer – do not accept adjuster’s final offer until you have consulted to a qualified Detroit auto personal injury attorney. Naturally, in negotiation, the insurance adjuster will start with a low ball first offer. Most insurance companies hope the auto accident victim will not realize the offer is low or may not have any idea what the claim is worth. You should always consult an experienced personal injury attorney, if for nothing else, piece of mind.
CONTACT A DETROIT AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
Do not make the mistake of talking to the adjuster without your lawyer present. Contact Detroit Auto Accident Attorneys immediately after a serious car accident. The lawyer you hire will work for you, not for the insurance company. Your lawyer will communicate with the insurance claims adjuster on your behalf, so you do not make any harmful mistakes. You can also our office at 248-352-2110 or toll free 1-866-447-3563 for a free no obligation consultation.