Auto Adjusters: An Endangered Species?

Insurance companies are for-profit corporations that aim to maximise their profits by offering claimants the least amount of money possible. To achieve this, insurance companies employ insurance adjusters, also known as claims adjusters, who are responsible for evaluating insurance claims and determining the payout amount. While insurance adjusters are meant to act in good faith, they are trained to use various tactics to minimise the financial liability of the insurance company. This includes attempting to identify fraud, twisting claimants' statements to imply liability, and using friendly demeanours to elicit statements that hurt the claimants' case. Given the conflict of interest between insurance companies and claimants, individuals are advised to consult attorneys who can protect their interests and ensure fair compensation.

Insurance adjusters are trained to make you think they're friendly

While insurance adjusters may appear friendly and professional, it is important to remember that they are on the side of the insurance company. Many insurance companies train their representatives and adjusters to sound friendly and approachable. They do this because they want you to open up to them, tell them more than you have to, and let your guard down. This is because when you do, you might end up making statements that hurt your case.

A friendly person is always easier to talk to than a rude person. But don't let a warm personality lure you into undercutting your own claim. Insurance adjusters are in charge of evaluating insurance claims. They are responsible for assessing the damage to a vehicle to figure out how much the insurance company should pay out. They will also provide you with further details regarding your next steps.

Adjusters work for the insurance company, and their job is to try to pay out as little as they can to keep their employer happy. They are trained in active listening, and they will use your words against you to devalue your case. They might even try to lead you into making contradictory statements or saying things against your best interests.

Insurance adjusters will try to sound genuinely concerned, truly friendly, and eager to help. But they have a job to do, and that job is to keep you from getting the money you deserve. They are not your friend, and they are not working for you.

Insurance adjusters will try to pay out as little as possible

While insurance adjusters are in charge of evaluating insurance claims and determining how much the insurance company should pay out, they are employed by insurance companies and therefore have the company's best interests in mind. As a result, insurance adjusters will try to pay out as little as possible.

Insurance companies are for-profit corporations, and their biggest concern is their bottom line. They would rather pad their own pockets than yours. They make money by offering claimants less money after a crash while continuing to receive insurance premiums.

Adjusters are trained to use various tactics to limit your settlement. For example, they may dismiss your vehicle's damages as unrelated to the accident or label the damages as old and not the result of the crash. They may also try to get you to admit fault in the accident or prove that you share liability. Adjusters will also use a lack of communication to their advantage, delaying the process to frustrate you enough that you make a mistake or give up on your claim.

Another tactic is to try to record you, as it is much more difficult to avoid mistakes in verbal communication than in written communication. A simple "I'm fine" in response to "How are you feeling today?" can make your injuries appear to be much less serious and extensive than they are.

Adjusters may also withhold information about the compensation you can receive, for example, for mileage to the doctor's office or prescriptions. They may also falsely say that an injured person is not entitled to compensatory damages for pain and suffering.

If you believe your insurance company didn’t pay enough to cover your damages or unfairly denied your claim, you have options. You can tell the company why you disagree with the adjuster's final estimate, and they may make adjustments. You can also file a complaint with a government body, or, as a last resort, sue the insurance company in a court of law.

Insurance adjusters will use your statements against you

After an accident, insurance companies will send a licensed adjuster to evaluate the value of your claim. While these adjusters may appear friendly and professional, it is important to remember that they are on the side of the insurance company. Their job is to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Insurance adjusters are trained to look for statements or actions that they can twist into admissions of liability or "acts inconsistent with" your claim. They might even try to lead you into making contradictory statements or saying things against your best interests. For example, they may ask you, "How are you doing today?" Even if you respond with a standard, "I'm doing okay," they may use this statement to show that you are uninjured.

Adjusters will also try to get you to admit fault in the accident or prove that you share liability. They may ask you questions like:

> "I understand that the other car ran the red light and hit you, but what more could you have done to avoid the accident?"

> "I understand that it rained on the day of the accident. How much of an effect do you think the slick roads had on your ability to avoid the accident?"

> "You are new to the area. Did your lack of familiarity with the area change how you drove that day?"

These types of questions may seem innocent, but you may inadvertently admit that you contributed to the accident. Such admissions can reduce the amount of money you can recover for your losses and injuries.

Insurance adjusters may also try to get a recorded statement from you, which can be used to take statements out of context and hurt your claim. You are not always required to consent to a recorded statement, and it is often best to decline. If they insist, consult with a lawyer first.

To avoid having your statements used against you, it is recommended that you do not speak to an adjuster after your accident or provide a recorded statement. Instead, contact an experienced car accident attorney, who can handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf and ensure that you do not say anything that can hurt your case.

Insurance adjusters will try to prove damage is unrelated to the accident

Insurance adjusters will try to prove that damage is unrelated to the accident in several ways. Firstly, they will attempt to identify any previous damage to your vehicle by checking its history and performing a hands-on inspection. They are trained to look for signs of old repairs, such as evidence of sanding, rust, and mismatched paint. They may also check for a "dark history", including electrical system frailties or mismatched upholstery, which could indicate that the car has been damaged by floodwater.

Secondly, insurance adjusters will try to obtain as much information about the accident as possible, including accident reports, police notes, photos, and interviews with those involved and any witnesses. They will use this information to determine fault for the accident and whether the damage to your vehicle was caused by it. They may also ask you questions about the accident, and it is important to be cautious about what you say, as they can use your statements against you to reduce your payout.

Thirdly, insurance adjusters will often offer a low settlement amount soon after the accident, hoping that you will accept it without verifying whether it is fair. They may also deny your claim, even if they believe it is valid, as another tactic to reduce their costs.

Finally, insurance adjusters will use their experience and training to assess which damages are old and which are new. They may visually inspect your car themselves or request an estimate from a certified repair shop to gather more information.

Therefore, it is recommended that you contact an experienced car accident attorney who can protect your interests and ensure you receive a fair settlement offer from the insurance company.

Insurance adjusters will try to prove damage is old

Insurance adjusters, also known as claims adjusters, are responsible for evaluating insurance claims and assessing the damage to a vehicle to determine how much the insurance company should pay for losses. They are not working for you, and their goal is to ensure that the insurance company pays out as little as possible. As such, they will try to prove that damage to your vehicle is old and unrelated to the accident in question.

To do this, insurance adjusters will use various tactics, including visual inspections of your car or requesting an estimate from a certified repair shop. They will look for evidence of old repairs and damage, such as sanding, rust, and mismatched paint. They will also check the car's history to see if it has been in previous accidents or sold as junk.

Insurance adjusters will also obtain accident reports, police notes, photos, and interviews with other drivers and witnesses to determine the circumstances of the accident and whether the damage to your car occurred because of it.

It is important to remember that insurance adjusters are trained to look for statements or actions that they can use against you to justify paying less or denying your claim altogether. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not speak to an adjuster after an accident or provide a recorded statement. Instead, you should consider consulting an experienced car accident attorney who can handle these discussions on your behalf and ensure your best interests are protected.

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