Insurance Adjusters: To Speak Or Not To Speak?

After an accident, you will likely have to speak with an insurance claims adjuster. Although this may sound simple, the process can be challenging and daunting. Insurance adjusters are professionals who work for insurance companies and their job is to review claims and determine how much money the company should pay out. Importantly, they are not on your side and are instead looking out for the best interests of their employer. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious when speaking with insurance adjusters and to remember that they are trained negotiators. While it is important to remain calm and polite, you should also be careful about what information you disclose. For instance, it is recommended that you only provide limited personal information and avoid giving details about the accident or your injuries.

Remain calm and polite

When speaking with an insurance adjuster, it is important to remain calm and polite. While this can be challenging, especially if you are upset or frustrated, it is in your best interest to keep your cool and maintain professionalism. Here are some tips to help you remain calm and polite during the conversation:

• Be prepared: Before speaking with the adjuster, gather all relevant documentation, including police reports, medical records, and bills. Having everything organized can help you feel more confident and in control during the conversation.
• Know what you want: Be clear about what you are asking for and the specific amount of compensation you feel is fair. Have documents ready to support your claim.
• Keep your emotions in check: Even if you are upset, try to remain calm and level-headed. Do not let the adjuster see you frustrated or agitated, as this may affect your claim. Take a break if you need to and schedule another time to speak.
• Be honest: Provide honest and accurate information about the accident and your injuries. However, do not speculate or provide more details than necessary. Stick to the facts and avoid giving long answers.
• Set boundaries: Let the adjuster know that you will not be discussing much on the initial call. Set clear limits on the information you are willing to provide and the topics you are comfortable discussing.
• Refuse to be recorded: You are not legally obligated to agree to a recorded statement or phone conversation. Politely decline any requests for recordings, as they can be used against you later.
• Seek legal assistance: Consider consulting an attorney before speaking with the adjuster. An attorney can guide you on what to say and protect your interests.

Remember, insurance adjusters are not on your side. They work for the insurance company and are looking out for their best interests. By remaining calm and polite, you can effectively navigate the conversation and protect your claim.

Identify the person you speak with

Before you discuss anything with an insurance claims adjuster, get their name, phone number, and email address. Make sure you know which insurance carrier they are representing, as well as the name or business of the policyholder they are covering. Be sure to keep a record of this information.

If you are dealing with your own insurance company, you may be obligated by the rules of your policy to give your insurance adjuster information about the accident. However, if you are dealing with the other driver's insurance company, you are typically under no legal obligation to speak with them.

If you do choose to speak with the other driver's insurance adjuster, be cautious about what you say. Their objective is to get you to accept the lowest amount of money possible in the shortest amount of time. They will use various tactics to reduce your final settlement. They may try to get you to accept a quick, lowball settlement before you understand the extent of your injuries and how much your claim is worth. They may also try to get you to give a statement about how the accident occurred, which they could then use against you.

Give limited personal information

When speaking to an insurance adjuster, it is important to remember that you are not legally required to share anything beyond some basic personal information. While they may try to get you to divulge more, it is in your best interest to keep personal information to a minimum.

You should provide the insurance adjuster with your full name, address, and phone number. You can also share your place of work and job type, but it is not necessary to go into further detail about your work life, daily activities, schedule, or income.

It is also important to note that you are not required to share your social security number or sign a medical authorization form. While an adjuster may claim that these are mandatory, this is not true. Giving them access to your full medical history can weaken your claim, as they will try to use any information they can find to cast doubt on your injury claim.

Remember, insurance adjusters are not your friends, and they do not have your best interests at heart. Their goal is to ensure you receive as little money as possible, so it is crucial to be cautious about what you share with them.

Don't give details of the accident

When dealing with insurance adjusters, it is important to remember that they are not your friends. They work for the insurance carrier and their goal is to ensure that you receive as little money as possible for your settlement. They will use various tactics to reduce your final settlement. Here are some tips to protect yourself:

• Refuse to give details of the accident: Insurance adjusters may ask you to give a statement about how the accident occurred. You are not obligated to provide any information other than basic details such as when and where it happened, the vehicles involved, and the identity of other drivers and witnesses. You can tell the insurance adjuster that your investigation into the accident is ongoing and you will discuss the facts at a later time.
• Be wary of their friendliness: Insurance adjusters are trained to sound friendly and approachable. They do this to get you to open up and tell them more than you need to. Do not let their warm personality lure you into undercutting your own claim.
• Do not admit fault: Avoid any language that could be construed as apologetic or admitting blame. Even if you think you may be partially at fault, do not discuss this with the adjuster. Admitting any level of fault can eliminate or reduce your compensation.
• Stick to basic details: Only provide very basic information about the accident, such as the date, time, location, vehicles involved, and names of witnesses. Avoid any further information or speculation, as this can be used against you.
• Do not give recorded statements: You are under no obligation to provide a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters may pressure you to do so, but politely refuse. Recorded statements can be used to twist your words and cast doubt on the legitimacy of your claim.
• Seek legal advice: Consult with an attorney who can guide you through the process and protect your interests. An experienced lawyer can help ensure that insurance companies have the information they need without jeopardizing your compensation.

Don't give details of your injuries

When dealing with insurance adjusters, it is important to remember that they are not your friends. They work for the insurance carrier and their goal is to ensure that you receive as little money as possible for your settlement. They are trained negotiators and will use various tactics to reduce your final settlement. While they may seem friendly and approachable, this is likely part of their strategy to get you to open up and tell them more than you need to.

• You may not know the full extent of your injuries yet: It is possible that you will discover new injuries or that your injuries are more severe than you initially thought. If you give a detailed description of your injuries to the adjuster, you might leave something out or provide an inaccurate picture of your condition.
• The adjuster will use your statements about your injuries against you: Even a simple statement like "I'm feeling better" or "I'm still treating" can be used to reduce your claim or throw it out entirely. The adjuster is looking for any information that can cast doubt on the severity of your injuries or suggest that something other than the accident is causing your condition to worsen.
• A medical professional should provide an accurate view of your injuries and prognosis: Only a doctor can provide an accurate assessment of your injuries and the outlook for your recovery. Your health situation can change, and it is possible that your injuries will worsen or new injuries will be discovered.
• You are not obligated to provide details of your injuries: You are only required to provide basic information about the accident and your injuries. It is enough to say that you are being treated by a doctor for injuries related to the incident.

If you are unsure about what to say to an insurance adjuster, it is always best to consult with an attorney who can guide you through the process and protect your interests.

Frequently asked questions