4 Must-Know Tips for Dealing with Insurance Adjusters Post-Car Accident
After you’ve been in a car accident, you’ll want to seek out payments for injuries and financial losses that have been thrust upon you. However, insurance adjusters can be tricky and know how to twist your words against you. To protect yourself, you should hire an attorney that can protect you from predatory insurance adjusters. Here are four must-know tips for dealing with an insurance adjuster post-car accident:
An Attorney Can Keep Things Fair
To begin with, you must comprehend the perspective of the insurance adjuster. You ought to be aware of what they hope to accomplish by any communication with you. Keep in mind that an insurance adjuster represents their employer. Their responsibility is to safeguard the insurance company’s bottom line, not your interests. An insurance adjuster should be seen as the representative of the entity you are suing in your lawsuit. Even when working with an adjuster from your own insurance provider, this is true. The difficult process of filing a claim after an automobile accident should not be handled by an insurance adjuster. By hiring a car accident attorney in Aurora, you can keep things fair, and have someone represent you that actually understands the true intent of insurance adjusters who are looking to undercut your payout.
Every Word You Speak Matters
An adjuster will frequently ask you for information under the pretense that they are unclear about the details of your claim and may use your assistance to learn the facts of your accident. In reality, they are only data collectors, or drones, gathering information for their employees, and should not be trusted. When the insurance adjuster gets in touch with you, they already have a pretty clear idea of how your accident happened and what kind of injuries and damages resulted from it. They also know very well how to tell their employer’s side of the story when you describe what happened. Resist the impulse to assist adjusters in gathering information. Don’t inflate specifics in your assertions to them, and keep your tone neutral. Say so if you are unsure of something. Don’t respond to a question if it makes you uncomfortable. Better yet, wait until you’ve retained legal counsel to defend you and have had a chance to speak with them before providing any statement to an insurance adjuster. Being careful about what you say will help you ensure you’re getting a payout that’s worth the loan you took out to get your automobile in the first place.
Avoid Taking the First Settlement Offer
Sometimes, after the first one or two phone conversations, insurance adjusters offer a settlement. Such speedy payouts spare the insurance firm labor costs. More significantly, they persuade you to accept a meager sum of money before you fully comprehend the extent of your injuries and the value of your personal injury claim. Don’t fall for the trap the insurance adjustor is trying to lure you into by accepting the first offer they provide you with. The money may be alluring, and taking a settlement may seem like a quick way to acquire compensation without going through the claims process, but in the long run, you’ll almost surely be undervaluing yourself. By hiring a quality car accident attorney, you’ll have a much better chance of finding a settlement that’s not only fair but more than fair. Patience is a virtue, and it can help you gain a lot more money after you’ve been in a car accident.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement
Many claims adjusters pressurize you to give a taped statement right away or politely ask whether they can record your phone call, saying that doing so will subsequently protect you. Never consent to have a conversation recorded. It is illegal for an adjuster to record you without your consent, and you are not required by law to be recorded. You should decline because when people are aware that they are being filmed, they typically become anxious and are more likely to forget to convey crucial details or to describe things awkwardly or incompletely. The written correspondence you will eventually submit to the insurance company is usually never as accurate and complete as a verbal declaration or chat. Additionally, recordings frequently receive far more attention than they merit. To simplify things, firmly decline an adjustor’s request for a recorded statement.
You Deserve a Fair Settlement
Getting a fair settlement is key after a car accident. Doing so can ensure you do not enter into financially dubious territory, and that you’re able to move on with your life quickly. By following these four tips, and hiring a qualified personal injury car accident attorney to assist you, you can avoid being undercut by predatory insurance adjusters that are assigned to your case.
