What to Do When the Accident Adjuster Calls

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Even minor car accidents can affect victims in many ways. Some accidents leave victims with serious injuries and impact their lives for some time to come. Recovering means moving forward after an accident so you might be pleased to mark off one task soon after the wreck—speaking to the insurance adjuster. Unfortunately, this action may not lead directly to compensation for the accident. Read on to find out why you should use caution when speaking to the other side after an accident.

Catching You at Your Worst

If you are like most, a car accident will manage to upturn your entire life. While you are still probably dealing with your injuries from the wreck, you will be called by the insurance adjuster. They may apologize for calling at a bad time, but if you agree to speak to them while in a vulnerable state, your entire compensation package could be in for a bad time. You should realize that you do not have to speak to this adjuster when they call or at any time. If you do decide to do so, have them make an appointment for a week or so later. Don't allow them to intimidate you into a recorded phone call by promising a settlement check either—you must speak to a personal injury attorney before knowing how much you really deserve.

Tips for Patiently Dealing with Aggressive Insurance Adjusters

If you do decide to speak and give the other driver's insurance adjuster a recorded statement, be prepared. Make no mistake about the motives of this employee, they work for the insurance company and their job is to reduce what they must pay to you. They will make an effort throughout any interview to extract as much damaging information about the accident as possible. It should be mentioned that if your personal injury attorney instructs you not to speak to the adjuster, heed their advice. Follow these tips if you talk to them:

1. Don't fall for misleading techniques. You might encounter a polite and sympathetic adjuster who lets you vent about the wreck and makes plenty of understanding noises. This technique is meant to catch you off guard so that you'll say something that damages your case. Some adjusters take an aggressive stance and try to anger you into blurting something out just to have the interview over.
2. Stick to the facts of the case. It's probably safe to give them your contact information (which they likely already have), where you work, and your insurance policy number.
3. If they say "tell me what happened," be very careful. Make them ask specific questions about the wreck and your injuries, and don't be afraid to say "I don't know."

Rather than put your compensation in jeopardy, allow your personal injury attorney to handle this call.

14 June 2019