You must notify your insurance provider after an accident if your property is damaged or you are harmed. The other driver’s insurance company will also need to be informed. Insurance companies will contact you to set up a meeting with an adjuster as soon as they are made aware of the incident. When speaking to an insurance adjuster following an accident, you must avoid saying anything that might jeopardize your claim.
If you’ve received any injuries and need to get your vehicle back on the road, that’s where you should put your attention first. However, immediately after your vehicle accident, you’ll have to meet with an insurance claims adjuster, and you’ll need to know how to handle these meetings. If you’re not careful in your interactions with claims adjusters, the amount of money you receive may be considerably decreased.
Claims adjusters are not your friends; they work for the insurance company, which must be kept in mind at all times. Unlike a car accident lawyer in Philadelphia, their purpose is to get you the least amount of money possible. Various strategies will be employed to lower your ultimate payment amount. There’s no doubt that the claims adjuster will be kind and approachable, but they’re also skilled negotiators.
What Exactly is an Insurance Adjuster?
Investigators are insurance adjusters. They examine the accident and evaluate whether or not the insurance company is responsible for the losses. They examine the damage to your property, your injuries, and your insurance coverage. If the mishap has a monetary value, they’ll figure out what the insurance company should payout. Insurance adjusters aren’t your friends, so keep that in mind while dealing with them. The insurance company employs them, and their job is to safeguard the financial interests of the firm. As a result, they’ll do all they can to avoid paying a fair settlement amount.
How to Deal with an Insurance Adjuster’s Phone Call?
In some cases, you may have to file a report of your accident before you may employ an attorney. Insurance company representatives may also contact you regarding the accident. If this does occur, you must be prepared to handle the call. You can tell them about the accident in generic terms, such as:
- Your full name
- The names of those who were involved in the accident.
- The accident’s timing and date
- The place where the accident occurred.
- The other driver’s insurance company
- The make and type of automobiles used
It’s critical, though, that you stick to the facts and avoid extrapolation. Avoid talking about who is to blame or who was hurt.
Tell them you prefer a written statement if they inquire directly about what transpired. We’re here to assist you in this endeavor. When they ask for further information, you have the option of gently declining their request until you have secured legal representation.
Tips for Speaking with an Insurance Claims Adjuster
The insurance adjuster will want to know your:
- Full name
- Contact details
- The responsibilities you have in your professional capacity
- Your timetable
- Your earnings
- Personal information about you and your family members
In the absence of an order from your attorney, you are not compelled to disclose this information to the public.
The Crash Investigation
To gather as much information as possible regarding the accident, an insurance adjuster will likely call you. They might want to know what caused the accident. What kind of accident it was, where it took place, how many cars were involved will all need to be provided.
However, refrain from expressing an opinion on the cause of the accident. The insurance adjuster’s job is to safeguard the company’s interests. As a general rule, you should restrict what you say to them as much as possible.
Your Injuries’ Severity
As soon as possible, the insurance adjuster will want to learn about your injuries. Insurers frequently adopt the approach of contacting accident victims as soon as possible to inquire about the degree of their injuries. Initially, the victim may not realize the full degree of their injuries or may even be on pain medication and not comprehend the questions or consequences of the situation.
It would help if you did not discuss the seriousness of your injuries with anybody beyond your attorney. You may forget something, misrepresent something, or uncover an injury that you didn’t account for when you offer information on your injuries. These blunders might be utilized to show that your assertions are inconsistent or that you are not as wounded as you look.
For the insurance company, your demand package is likely to contain a detailed description of your injuries. For now, you should merely provide a broad description of your injuries or say that you are currently undergoing therapy.
Inquire About Your Health Records
Medical records can be obtained on your behalf when you sign a blanket medical release form, which the insurance adjuster may ask you to sign. On the other hand, these documents are frequently created to be far more comprehensive than is required. Attorneys typically request medical records and supply the adjuster with necessary copies.
Make a Statement that is Recorded
If you have an insurance claim, you may be asked to make a recorded statement or record your phone call. There is a problem with this. It is against the law to record your discussions without your consent, and you have no legal responsibility to accept this.
You may omit something essential or say something you didn’t want to convey. Your lawyer’s written letter will likely be more exact and correct than your conversational declaration. It’s also possible that you won’t be able to go back and fix something you stated during an audio recording.
The Must-Dos
- Make contact with your insurance carrier as soon as possible following an accident. If you require emergency medical treatment, this can be arranged after you have received therapy.
- Do read your insurance policy carefully to ensure that you comprehend the coverage provided. This should be accomplished before speaking with an adjuster.
- Maintain a record of all communications with representatives of insurance companies. These records should include thorough notes of all discussions and the names, contact information, and work titles of the individuals with whom you speak.
- Collect all additional insurance plans that you or other household members may have. In this manner, your attorney can ascertain whether any further coverage is applicable.
- Ascertain whether your insurance policy covers replacement costs or depreciated/actual cash worth.
- Whenever feasible, take photographs of your car and any injured parts.
- Keep any receipts for expenditures incurred as a result of the accident.
What to Avoid Telling Your Insurance Agent?
Sharing basic information is OK, but discussing particular specifics might jeopardize your case. Among the more dangerous subjects:
- What caused the incident
- Who was responsible for the accident
- What you were doing before the accident
- Any physical ailments you may be suffering from
- Any additional accident, injury, or damage details
How an Attorney Can Help
Our law firm will handle all interactions with the insurance company on your behalf. We will make sure that they aren’t pushing you into saying something they may use against you later by asking you difficult questions. Protecting your rights and preventing the insurance companies from bullying you into accepting a lowball offer are the responsibilities of Philadelphia Injury Lawyers, P.C.
