The Complex Relationship Between Insured And Insurance Adjuster: Whose Side Are They Really On?

is my insurance adjuster on my side

Many people believe that insurance adjusters are on their side, but this is not always the case. Insurance adjusters are hired by insurance companies to investigate claims and determine how much the company should pay out. As such, their goal is to settle claims as quickly and cheaply as possible to save money for their employer. They may use a range of tactics to achieve this, including delaying communication, asking leading questions, and using your statements against you. While insurance adjusters may seem friendly and professional, it is important to remember that they are working for the insurance company and not for you.

Characteristics Values
Who do insurance adjusters work for? Insurance adjusters work for insurance companies, not the claimant.
What is their job? To settle claims as quickly and cheaply as possible.
How do they do their job? By employing misleading tactics, such as avoiding communication, using your statements against you, and pretending to be on your side.
What should you do? Never talk to an adjuster alone; get a lawyer.

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Insurance adjusters are not on your side

To achieve this, adjusters often employ misleading tactics to get you to accept a lower settlement amount than you deserve. For example, they may try to get you to admit fault in the accident or prove that you share liability. They may also delay the process, hoping that you will get frustrated and give up or miss the statute of limitations.

Adjusters are trained to gather information and will use whatever you say against you to reduce the value of your claim. They may ask questions about the nature of your injuries to make it seem like they are not that serious or question you about the collision to imply that you were partially at fault. They may also try to get you to sign a waiver authorizing them to access your medical records or settle your claim for less than you deserve.

Remember that insurance adjusters are under no obligation to help you and are not required by law to tell you the truth. Their goal is to pay you as little money as possible and close your case. Therefore, it is essential to have an advocate on your side, such as an attorney, who can shield you from adjusters and ensure that your rights are respected.

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They work for the insurance company

It is important to remember that insurance adjusters are not on your side. They work for the insurance company, and their goal is to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible to save money for their employer. While they may appear friendly and professional, they are only interested in the insurance company's bottom line and will employ various tactics to reduce the payout on your claim.

Insurance adjusters act as investigators for the insurance company. They will review the details of your claim, assess the damages, and gather information to determine how much the insurance company needs to pay. They may inspect the damage to your property, review police reports, speak to witnesses, and ask you questions about the nature of your injuries and the incident. While they may seem like they are on your side, they are skilled at gathering information that can be used to reduce their client's liability and payout.

One common tactic used by insurance adjusters is to delay communication or avoid answering your calls, hoping that you will get frustrated and give up on your claim. They may also try to convince you that you do not need to hire a lawyer and that you should just work with them to resolve the matter quickly. This is a red flag that they are not working in your best interests. Insurance adjusters are trained to get claimants to settle for less than they deserve, and having a lawyer by your side can help protect you from these tactics.

Another tactic used by insurance adjusters is to ask questions designed to make it seem like your injuries are not serious or that you share some liability for the incident. For example, they may ask about prior medical conditions or try to suggest that you could have done something differently to avoid the accident. They may also request access to your medical records, hoping to find information that can be used to delegitimize your claim.

Remember, insurance adjusters are not looking out for your best interests. Their job is to protect the insurance company's profits, so it is crucial to be cautious when dealing with them and consider seeking legal representation to ensure your rights are protected.

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They want to settle quickly and cheaply

It's important to remember that insurance adjusters are employed by insurance companies, and their primary goal is to settle claims as quickly and cheaply as possible to save money for their employer. They are not on your side and will often employ misleading tactics to get you to accept a lower settlement than you deserve.

  • Delaying tactics: Adjusters may delay responding to your calls or communicating with you, hoping that you will get frustrated and give up on your claim. They may also let your claim hang in limbo, knowing that there is a time limit (known as a statute of limitations) on how long you have to file a lawsuit after an accident.
  • Low settlement offers: Insurance companies often make early settlement offers that are much lower than what you truly deserve. This is a standard practice for them to save money. They know that many people will be tempted by the idea of quick cash and may not realize they are signing away their rights to additional compensation.
  • Information gathering: While insurance adjusters may seem friendly and concerned, they are trained to gather information from you that can be used against you. They may ask questions about your injuries or the accident in a way that makes it seem like your injuries are not serious or that you share some fault for the accident. They will use any statements or actions against you to reduce their liability.
  • Discouraging legal representation: Insurance adjusters may tell you that you don't need a lawyer and that you should just work directly with them to resolve the matter quickly. This is a red flag because it indicates that they are not working in your best interest. A lawyer can help shield you from these tactics and ensure you get a fair settlement.
  • Twisting your words: Insurance adjusters are skilled at twisting your words and making you say things that may hurt your claim. They may ask leading questions or try to get you to make contradictory statements. They know that verbal communication can be tricky, and it's easy to make a mistake in how you phrase an answer.
  • Using your medical records: Adjusters may ask you to sign a waiver allowing them to access your medical records. They will then try to find any information, no matter how unrelated, that can be used to shift the blame away from their insured client. For example, they may try to find an old injury and claim that it is the real cause of your current issue.
  • Surveillance: In some cases, insurance adjusters may even resort to surveillance tactics, such as watching your home or checking your social media, to catch you doing anything that could hurt your claim. For example, if they see you lifting a heavy box or going on a trip after a car accident, they may use this as evidence that your injuries are not as serious as claimed.

Remember, insurance adjusters are not your friend in these situations. Their goal is to save money for the insurance company, not to ensure you get a fair settlement. Always seek legal representation when dealing with insurance adjusters to protect your rights and interests.

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They use misleading tactics

Insurance adjusters are employed by insurance companies to assess the validity of a claim and determine how much the company should pay out. While they may seem friendly and professional, it's important to remember that they are not on your side. Their goal is to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible to save money for their employer. To achieve this, adjusters often employ misleading tactics to get claimants to accept a lower settlement than they deserve. Here are some of the ways they do this:

  • Avoid communication: Adjusters may fail to answer or return phone calls, hoping that claimants will get frustrated and give up on their claim.
  • Lack of communication: In some cases, claimants may experience little to no communication from the adjuster and then receive a small settlement check in the mail. Believing this is the only money they can recover, claimants will cash the check and unknowingly settle for a lower amount.
  • Delaying the payment of your claim: Adjusters know that those involved in accidents often face financial pressure and medical bills. By delaying the payment of a claim, adjusters can pressure claimants into accepting a lower settlement.
  • Requesting unnecessary documentation: Adjusters may ask for documents that aren't needed because they know claimants don't have them, wearing them down and pressuring them to accept a lower settlement.
  • Undervaluing your claim: Adjusters may offer a low-ball settlement, claiming that repairs can be completed for less than the actual price.
  • Tricking you into admitting fault: Adjusters may ask questions designed to make it seem like your injuries are not serious or that you share some liability for the accident. For example, they might ask, "What more could you have done to avoid the accident?"
  • False deadlines: Adjusters may tell claimants that they have a deadline to accept a settlement offer, creating a false sense of urgency to pressure claimants into accepting a low-ball offer.
  • Acting like they care: Adjusters may act overly friendly to get your guard down and use information against you. They are not your friends; they work for the insurance company.

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They are trained to be friendly

While insurance adjusters may appear friendly and professional, it is important to remember that they are on the side of the insurance company and are trained to be friendly. They are not on your side.

Insurance adjusters are hired by insurance companies to look into claims and determine whether they need to pay for damages. They will assess the damages, look into the details of the accident, speak with you and witnesses, and peruse accident records to determine how much the insurance company should pay.

Insurance companies are for-profit corporations, and their biggest concern is their bottom line. They would rather pad their own pockets than yours. They are trained to sound friendly and approachable so that you open up to them and tell them more than you have to. They want you to let your guard down so that you might end up making statements that hurt your case.

Adjusters will also try to ask you questions about the nature of your injuries to make it seem as though your injuries are not that serious, or they may ask questions about the collision to make it seem as though you were partially at fault. They will also try to convince you to accept a lowball settlement offer, telling you that it is the final offer when it is not.

Remember, insurance adjusters are trained and experienced in handling claimants and working to get them to settle for low amounts. They are looking out for the insurance company's best interest, not yours.

Frequently asked questions

No, your insurance adjuster is not on your side. They work for the insurance company, which is a for-profit corporation whose primary goal is to make and save money.

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An insurance adjuster, or claims adjuster, investigates insurance claims on behalf of the insurance company. They review what happened, estimate the claims payment, and look for ways to minimise the insurance company's payout.

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Insurance adjusters often employ misleading tactics to get claimants to accept lower settlements. This may include delaying communication, asking leading questions, using your statements against you, and pretending to be on your side.

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It is recommended that you do not interact with an insurance adjuster alone. Get a lawyer to shield you from adjusters and ensure they are following the rules. If you must interact with an adjuster, give them as little information as possible, be truthful, and avoid getting angry.

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If you disagree with the adjuster's estimate, tell the insurance company why. They may adjust the offer. If you still disagree, you can ask the company to assign a different adjuster or explore other options.

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