Navigating The Claims Process: Strategies For Responding To Insurance Adjuster Questions

An insurance adjuster interview can be an intimidating process, but it is important to remember that it is a fact-finding process and not an interrogation. The adjuster works for the insurance company and not for you, and their goal is to settle claims quickly and inexpensively. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious about what you say during the interview. Here are some tips on how to answer insurance adjuster questions effectively:

- Be honest and respond to each question as truthfully as possible. If you don't remember something or are unsure, simply state that you don't remember or are uncertain.

- Avoid providing unnecessary details or elaborating on your answers. Answer the specific question that is asked without volunteering additional information.

- Be careful about discussing your medical condition or injuries. It is advisable to consult with an attorney before providing detailed information about your injuries.

- You are not obligated to provide a recorded statement. If you are uncomfortable with being recorded, politely decline the request.

- Do not admit fault or blame, even if you are uncertain about who was responsible for the accident.

- Seek legal representation if there are serious injuries or complications involved. An attorney can guide you through the process and protect your interests.

- Remember that the adjuster's goal is to keep the claim value low. You may want to consult an attorney to ensure you receive a fair settlement.

Be wary, insurance adjusters work for the company, not you

Be Wary: Insurance Adjusters Work for the Company, Not You

After an accident, insurance adjusters get involved very quickly. While they may seem personable, it's important to remember that they are not on your side. They are employed by the insurance company and their job is to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Tricks of the Trade

• They will try to get you to admit fault for the accident, or partial blame, to reduce how much they have to pay out.
• They will try to pressure you into accepting a lowball offer, hoping you'll be grateful to receive anything at all.
• They will try to get you to give a recorded statement, which they can then use against you.
• They will try to get you to admit you are uninjured, or downplay your injuries, which will reduce the value of your claim.
• They will delay the payment of your claim, knowing that you are in a precarious financial position, and dangle a meagre settlement in front of you.
• They will try to record you, and ask you questions designed to elicit answers that can be taken out of context and hurt your claim.
• They will try to get you to sign a settlement agreement and claim release, which will prevent you from pursuing further compensation.
• They will try to get you to admit there was something you could have done to prevent the accident.
• They will try to get access to your medical records, going back years, to find a way to prove that your injuries are not the fault of their client.
• They will try to convince you that you don't need an attorney, as they know this will likely result in a higher payout.

How to Handle Insurance Adjusters

• Be very careful about what you say. Even an innocuous comment like "I'm fine" can affect the settlement value of your claim.
• Politely decline to have the conversation recorded.
• Don't admit fault or partial blame, even if you think you are guilty.
• Don't sign anything without consulting an attorney.
• Don't discuss your medical condition.
• Direct them to speak with your attorney.
• Be aware that they will try to rush you into settling.
• Don't assume your insurer is your friend.
• Only answer the question that is asked, don't elaborate.

Don't admit fault, even if you're uncertain

When speaking to an insurance adjuster, it is important to remember that their role is to gather information to process your claim. They are not on your side, and their job is to resolve the claim with as little liability to the insurance company as possible. With that in mind, here are some key points to remember when speaking to an insurance adjuster:

• Never admit fault or use apologetic language, even if you think you are at fault. Wait for an official investigation to determine fault. There could be other factors at play that you are unaware of, such as the other driver's actions or a vehicle defect.
• Decline to answer questions when you do not know the facts. Do not speculate or give your opinion about what happened or what you think is to blame. Keep your answers short and truthful, without providing unnecessary details. It is okay to say that you don't know or that you need to speak to your lawyer before answering.
• Do not provide information about your injuries. You are not required to answer questions about your injuries, and doing so may undermine your claim. For example, if you mention a back injury but later discover other serious injuries, the adjuster may consider the back injury to be the only issue and disregard future medical bills. Instead, you can say something like, "I was injured and am currently seeking medical treatment. Please contact my attorney for further information."
• Do not agree to give a recorded statement or sign anything without your lawyer present. You are not legally obligated to provide a recorded statement, and doing so may compromise your claim. The adjuster may try to catch you changing your story or use your words out of context to minimise the insurance company's liability.
• Do not accept the first settlement offer. Initial offers are usually much lower than the true value of the claim, and you should consult a personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement.

Remember, anything you say to an insurance adjuster can be used against you, and their goal is to minimise the insurance company's payout. It is important to remain polite and professional while being cautious about the information you provide.

Avoid discussing injuries, adrenaline may mask them

When dealing with an insurance adjuster, it is important to be aware that they work for the insurance company and will try to settle claims as quickly and inexpensively as possible. This means that you should be very careful about what you say to them. Even a casual response like “I’m fine” can be used to devalue your claim or affect your chances of recovering in court.

The same goes for discussing injuries. Adrenaline can mask pain and make it harder to feel injuries after an accident. This can cause people to believe that they are fine and to decline medical treatment, only to realize later that they are actually injured. Therefore, it is generally recommended to avoid discussing injuries with the adjuster and to focus on the damage to your vehicle instead. If you must discuss injuries, it is best to do so at a later date, as the full extent of your injuries may not be apparent immediately after the accident.

• You are not legally obligated to give a recorded statement, and it is generally advisable to politely decline such a request.
• Be very cautious about signing any settlement agreements or claim releases. It is recommended to consult with an attorney before signing anything.
• If you have been injured, consider speaking to an attorney before talking to the adjuster to avoid saying anything that could hurt your claim.
• Do not admit fault or discuss the details of how the accident occurred. Simply provide the adjuster with the basic information, such as when and where it happened.
• Do not feel pressured to accept the adjuster's first appraisal or settlement offer. You have the right to challenge it if you believe it is unfair or inaccurate.

Decline to be recorded, seek legal advice first

If you've been in a car accident, one of the first things you should do is contact your insurance company. During that first phone call, you can expect to have an interview about the accident and the circumstances surrounding it. This interview provides the adjuster with the information they need to get your claim started.

Most interviews by auto insurance adjusters take place over the telephone, but if your adjuster has a local office, you may have an in-person interview. If the insurance adjuster wants to record the interview, they must ask for your permission first. You are not legally obligated to give a recorded statement, and you can simply decline to be recorded. If you decline, the adjuster may ask you to confirm that you won't be recording the conversation either.

It's important to remember that the insurance claims adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. They will try to settle claims as quickly and inexpensively as possible. Knowing what not to say to an auto claims adjuster is extremely important to the success of your claim. Even a friendly response can appear in their written report and affect the settlement value of your claim.

The adjuster may ask if they can record the conversation so they can review it later. Generally, you should politely decline this request and take time to consult with an attorney. You can say something like: "I'll be happy to go over anything with you informally, but if you're going to be recording anything, that sounds sort of formal, so maybe I better speak to a lawyer first."

Once the call is being recorded, the auto claims adjuster has an extra incentive to get you to say something that may undermine your potential claim, show your recollection is faulty, be construed as misleading, or suggest you are exaggerating. They have all sorts of tricks to get you to admit that you weren't injured, so be very careful about what you say.

If you've been injured, you may want to speak to an attorney before talking to the other driver's insurer so you don't say or sign anything that could hurt your chances of making a personal injury claim or getting the compensation you deserve.

Answer questions honestly, but don't volunteer details

If you've been in a car accident, one of the first things you should do is contact your insurance company. You will then have an interview with an insurance adjuster, which will provide them with the information they need to get your claim started.

The interview will cover questions related to your car accident, such as where it occurred, which direction you were heading, how the accident occurred, what you observed, what vehicles were involved, whether anyone was hurt, and whether a police report was taken.

It's important to be very careful about what you say to an insurance adjuster. They work for the insurance company, not for you, and their goal is to settle claims as quickly and inexpensively as possible. Even a friendly comment about feeling fine can be used to downplay the severity of your injuries and affect the settlement value of your claim.

The adjuster may ask to record the conversation, and you have the right to refuse. If you do agree to be recorded, be aware that the adjuster may try to get you to say something that could undermine your claim or be construed as misleading. For example, they might ask how you're feeling, hoping for a response that indicates you're not injured. Even if you feel fine, you may have injuries that only become apparent days or weeks later. It's best to avoid discussing your medical condition and instead focus on providing factual information about the accident and any property damage.

When answering the adjuster's questions, be honest, but don't volunteer more information than is necessary. For instance, if asked about the time of the accident, simply state the time without providing additional details about your activities beforehand. This helps protect your claim by ensuring your responses aren't used against you in the future.

Frequently asked questions