The singular goal of an insurance adjuster is to settle injury claims with the lowest payout possible. After all, if they just handed out large settlements like they were candy, the insurance company wouldn’t be in business very long. Instead, they do everything in their power to calculate the lowest reasonable amount that they believe the other side will accept in order to protect their financial interests.
Insurance adjusters play a vital role in the personal injury settlement process, but it’s always important to remember which side they are on throughout the process (hint – not yours!). In today’s blog, we talk a little bit more about the role insurance adjusters play in your personal injury claim’s process.
How Insurance Adjusters Determine An Award Amount
When you file an injury claim with an insurance company, it heads to their claim’s department to be processed by an insurance adjuster. They’ll review your claim and look at certain factors to put together a settlement offer. Your medical expenses typically make up the bulk of the claim award, and while services you’ve already been charged for are easy to factor into a settlement amount, they’ll also work to determine your future medical expenses. In many instances, they will try to downplay or underestimate the extent of your future medical care, so you’ll always want to review these valuations carefully.
Aside from medical expenses, the adjuster will also look at wage loss benefits in the event the accident caused you to miss time from work. They’ll do this using a standard scale based on your typical employment earnings, but again, you’ll want to ensure that things like future work-related financial losses or overtime compensation is correctly factored into this part of your settlement award.
Finally, if you file for them, the claim may also attempt to account for factors like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life or other expenses directly related to your injuries. As you might imagine, putting a dollar amount on pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life is quite subjective, and considering which side the insurance adjuster is on, you can assume they will use the lowest amounts possible to keep the total settlement offer on the low end.
When You Receive Your Settlement Offer
After the insurance adjuster has added up their numbers and developed what they believe is a fair offer or at least one they hope you’ll accept, they’ll mail you your settlement letter. You’ll want to review this carefully for any discrepancies, and it’s always smart to have a lawyer review the offer to make sure the insurance company isn’t trying to take advantage of you.
It’s also important to watch out for certain tactics that the insurance adjuster may use to try to get you to accept the offer. During a phone call, they may act friendly, sympathize with you and make it seem like they want to get you the money you deserve as quickly as possible. They only want to end the case quickly to put a stop to their liability, so don’t let them fool you that they are working in your best interests to get you the money you’re owed.
If you push back on their low offer, odds are you’ll notice a shift in their demeanor. They may go from a friendly associate who is trying to get you a fast payday to someone who questions certain aspects of your claim or tries to cast doubt over your credibility. They may suggest that certain medical expenses are unnecessary or that you are actually more at fault for your injuries than you suggest. Now they are trying to make it seem like you’re lucky to be receiving the amount they are offering in the first place. Don’t fall for these tactics or rush into any decisions. Take the claim to your lawyer and explain to them what the insurance company is telling you, and they’ll help you make an informed decision or file a counterclaim.
So if you have been injured and are seeking compensation from your insurance company or a third party’s insurance company, know that they are not on your side and will try to settle your claim for pennies on the dollar. Remember that they are not on your side, and that the only true ally you have in this process besides yourself is your attorney. Your lawyer only gets paid when you win, so they stand to gain if they make you the most money possible. Trust a professional with your case and get what you deserve after a personal injury.
For more information about how to handle insurance adjusters, or for help with your injury case, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today.
