What Not to Say to an Insurance Adjuster

After an accident, someone from your insurance company or another involved party’s insurance company may contact you to ask you questions about the details of your accident. These questions are specifically designed to take the fault off the other party, or at least get you to provide certain information that could seriously compromise the value of your claim.

Before speaking with any of these adjusters, you should speak with a qualified personal injury lawyer. They will be able to assess the facts of your case and guide you through these conversations to ensure that your claim is not compromised.

If an Adjuster Calls, Here Is What You Should Not Say:

When you get that call from the adjuster, keep these tips in mind:

• Never admit that you are at fault. Above all, during a conversation with an insurance adjuster, you should never say anything that could imply that you are at fault. An adjuster’s job is to find ways to reduce the liability of an insurance company after an accident. Regardless of the facts of the case, implying that you are at all at fault to an adjuster is a surefire way to reduce the value of your claim or have it denied altogether.
• Do not provide information on your current medical condition. Insurance adjusters will use every little piece of language against you when evaluating your claim. When the insurance adjuster calls you and asks you how you are, for example, it may be tempting to default to “good” or “fine.” Don’t say that. Make no mention of your current health, regardless of whether you have had the chance to visit a medical professional or not.
• Whether you know your medical state or not, do not speculate on it. If an insurance adjuster tries to ask you about any specific injuries, particularly if you have not yet visited a doctor, it is important not to discuss any possible injuries. If you self-diagnose, this information can be used against you later. If you received a diagnosis from your doctor that ends up being more severe than how you diagnosed yourself, this conflict between diagnoses could prevent you from getting the full amount that you would otherwise be entitled to.
• Do not give consent to be recorded. One goal of insurance adjusters is to get a recorded statement from you. Anything that you say and is recorded could be used against you later, so you should not consent to be recorded when discussing your claim unless you have spoken first with a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyer.
• Do not speculate on your material damages. In the wake of an accident, you most likely have suffered property damage in addition to your injuries. Work with independent estimators to get cost estimates for your vehicle and other personal property that has been damaged. Avoid giving any information to the adjuster about the value of your losses until you have spoken with a qualified personal injury lawyer. Like the circumstances surrounding the accident itself, you should never imply to the adjuster that any of the material damages were your fault.

It is important to keep in mind the role of an insurance adjuster in the claims process. Insurance companies employ insurance adjusters to reduce the amount of money that they pay out for a claim. Adjusters typically will allocate a certain amount of money for each claim and will try to get you to accept an offer below that number. It is important that you speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer as soon as possible following an accident, as they are trained to understand the facts of your case, gather the necessary evidence and testimony, and work to get you the full value of your claim.

Your chances of getting a fair settlement for your claim are far higher when you hire a personal injury lawyer. They understand the language that you should use when speaking with insurance companies and understand the general tactics the adjusters will use to get you to admit that you are at fault or accept an offer far lower than what you could be getting.

Contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers Today

If you stick to the above tips while working closely with a personal injury lawyer, you will have a much better chance of getting compensation that covers the full value of your claim. Being able to anticipate these conversations and ensuring that you do not give away any information that could compromise your claim, regardless of whether you contributed to the accident, will increase your chances of recovering compensation and holding those who injured you through their negligence accountable.

Call the San Diego personal injury lawyers of Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers today at (619) 233-5020 for a free consultation.