If you were injured in a car accident, you may be considering filing an insurance claim for your injury-related losses. You may think all you need to do is call the liable driver’s insurer and follow all of their instructions to receive your payment. Unfortunately, the insurance company will not make it easy for you.
If you have been in an accident of any kind, we HIGHLY recommend you call us now for a FREE case evaluation at (800) 898-4877 or contact us now with our simple online form. You won’t pay us a dime until we’ve successfully resolved your case, so you have nothing to lose!
In the meantime, here are seven insurance claim adjuster secret tactics to look out for.
The following seven car insurance adjuster secrets will explain why you need to hire an experienced attorney to deal with the tricks that insurance adjusters will undoubtedly try to play.
Secret #1: The Car Insurance Adjuster May Claim Your Injuries are Not Related to the Accident
Don’t delay your medical treatment! After your initial conversation with an adjuster, you may feel tempted to wait on more medical treatments until you know the status of your payment. However, these claims can take a while, and delays in your medical treatment will only hurt your case. If you’re not following a treatment plan or if you decide to stop treatments for any reason, the car insurance adjuster will doubt the seriousness of your injuries or say they are related to a later incident. Instead, treat your injuries and let our attorneys worry about how to pay your medical bills!
Secret #2: The Other Driver's Car Insurance Adjuster is Not On Your Side
Don’t trust the adjuster! Auto insurance adjusters want you to believe that they care about you—especially if you sustained serious injuries. They will often sound friendly and talk to you with compassion for what you’re going through. However, always remember that you are just one claim in the hundreds that they manage, and they will use their manipulation tactics to close your case ASAP, as opposed to allowing you to fully heal!
If you trust a car insurance adjuster, especially if they represent the at-fault party that caused your accident, you are more likely to believe what the adjuster says. Adjusters may promise that they will take care of you, so you don’t need an attorney to protect you. They simply don’t want you to have legal representation because they know that having legal assistance will often increase your settlement payment. Adjusters work for the insurance company, they receive bonuses when they close claims for small amounts, and they do NOT have your best interests in mind.
Secret #3: Car Insurance Adjusters' Advice Does Not Protect Your Best Interests
Don’t listen to the adjuster’s opinions! An insurance adjuster may give you an “honest” opinion about many aspects of your case, including whether you should talk to a lawyer (they will likely say you shouldn’t). In addition, adjusters can sneak in little comments during your conversations intended to manipulate your expectations. For instance, they may comment that your claim isn’t that substantial or that you are partially at fault for the accident. Their goal is to limit your settlement amount. These comments are meant to convince you that you deserve a lower settlement. This is one way in which they manipulate you to feel more inclined to accept a much lower offer than you truly deserve. If you want opinions about your claim, don’t talk to a biased car insurance adjuster—talk to an attorney who will put your best interests first!
Secret #4: You Don't Have to Give a Recorded Statement, and You Shouldn't!
Don’t say too much! Adjusters will probably ask you to make a recorded statement regarding the accident. This is a really bad idea for many reasons. When you give a recorded statement, the claims adjuster may take some of your statements and twist them around to try to limit the payment on your claim. For example, if you honestly say that you didn’t see the other car before the crash, an adjuster may interpret that comment and claim you weren't watching the road or were distracted. Always hire an attorney to answer all questions from an adjuster. Do not give an official statement. Adjusters may tell you that a recorded statement is necessary for your claim. It is NOT. You have ZERO obligation to give recorded statements or interviews at this stage of the legal process.
Secret #5: Don't Be Pressured to Settle Too Soon
Don’t fall into a settlement trap! Many people are happy to get a check as fast as possible after a car crash. However, by offering a quick settlement, an adjuster is trying to get you to accept less than you deserve. This is especially true if any of your injuries remain undiagnosed. Depending on the circumstances, you may not know the extent of treatments you’ll need and how much they may cost. If you don’t have all of the necessary information about your losses, do not blindly accept a quick settlement, no matter how good cashing that check may feel. Don’t fall into a trap by accepting a lowball offer. Review any settlement offers you receive with a skilled personal injury lawyer before you agree to anything.
Secret #6: Car Insurance Adjusters Don't Want to Deal With a Lawyer
Don’t risk handling your claim on your own! You may feel tempted to trust an insurance adjuster who tells you that you’re in for a simple, fast process. In reality, an insurance claim can turn into a roller coaster of delays, denials, and disappointments. This is all on top of the already stressful process of undergoing medical treatments for your injuries. The best thing you can do to protect your rights—and your sanity—is to seek help from an experienced accident injury law firm. Too many people don't realize they could have recovered a much larger settlement if they had skilled negotiators fighting for their rights. Don’t risk losing critical compensation by trying to handle a claim all on your own.
Secret #7: You Can Afford to Work with a Dedicated Insurance Claim Lawyer
Consult an experienced attorney - Consultations should be FREE! Insurance adjusters may try to deter you from calling a car accident lawyer by saying it would waste your money. However, that's not true. Consultations with personal injury lawyers should be completely free. There is NOTHING to lose by sitting down to discuss your rights with an attorney, so why wait any longer to call?
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers for Help with Your Insurance Claim
Insurance claims can trick anyone, and most people may not even realize they were bamboozled until too late. Instead of risking the money you need for your losses, call our legal team for your FREE consultation. We will evaluate your rights and options and discuss with you the many ways we may be able to help.
The nationally recognized attorneys of Stewart J. Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers, have fought against insurance companies and on behalf of injured accident victims for more than 20 years. Because we take all of our personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis, you will not owe us a DIME unless we win your case. We are available 24/7, so call us today at (800) 898-4877 or contact us now with our online form.