If you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you’re probably wondering how to go about earning a personal injury award once all the dust has settled. You may even be approached by an insurance adjuster offering to help get the ball rolling on your claim the same day that the accident occurred. But before you give them any kind of statement, there’s one thing you need to do. In today’s blog, we share the only tip you’ll need to ensure you aren’t taken advantage of by an insurance adjuster following a car accident with injuries.
The Best Way To Deal With An Insurance Adjuster
An insurance adjuster may present themselves as someone who is on your side and who wants to help you get the money that you are owed. However, there is a big difference in helping you get the largest award possible and helping you put an end to your case. An insurance adjuster wants to solve your claim while paying out the smallest amount that is legally possible, so it’s important to remember that they are not on your side, no matter what they claim.
Also, because insurance adjusters deal with injury claims on a daily basis, many people are afraid to talk to an insurance adjuster after an accident out of fear that they may inadvertently say something that will hurt their case. You don’t want to lie about the facts of the accident, but at the same time, you may inadvertently say something during these discussions that greatly reduces your chances of winning a fair claim. So what should you do if you’re contacted by an insurance adjuster and asked to provide a statement following an automobile accident with injuries?
The one thing you need to make sure you do before you provide any kind of recorded statement or report over the phone is to contact a personal injury lawyer. They know exactly how insurance adjusters work to limit their company’s liability, and they can walk you through what types of traps to watch out for. Moreover, in many instances they can handle correspondence with the claim’s adjuster, meaning you may not have to do the talking. You may have to give a statement for the record at some point, but you certainly don’t need to be rushed into giving it before you are ready. Contact a lawyer and let them act as a buffer between you and the insurance adjuster.
If you do end up having a conversation with an insurance adjuster, keep your answers short and avoid getting overly specific unless advised otherwise by your attorney. If you say something that is contested or turns out to be untrue, an insurance adjuster can use that as the basis to challenge your entire claim. Also, make sure you record the details of this conversation on your end. Take down the date, time, name of the agent and the basics of the conversation so that you have a handy reference on your end if you are ever asked about this interaction. But again, it’s wise to contact a personal injury lawyer before you ever talk to the insurance company.
Now, you might be thinking that a lawyer is also working for their best interests, and how do you know who is really looking out for you? The nice thing about personal injury law is that lawyers get a fraction of the total award they receive for their clients. That means a lawyer gets a bigger payday if they can get you more money for your claim. Your interests are purely aligned, whereas an insurance adjuster only wants to help you settle your case in order to limit exposure for their company. They have ulterior motives, whereas a lawyer has a vested interest in helping you maximize your payout. Lean on them and trust their experience throughout the process.
The single best thing you can do for your case following a car accident with injuries is to connect with a lawyer early in the process. Even if you decide you’re not going to move forward with a claim, there is no harm in taking a free consultation and learning more about your options. Their advice early in the process helps send you down the right path and avoid major setbacks when talking to the insurance adjuster.
For more information, or for help navigating your car accident injury claim, reach out to the experienced team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
