Navigating The Claims Process: Understanding The Role Of Insurance Adjusters

When you file an insurance claim, you expect your homeowner's insurance policy to cover your losses. Your claims adjuster should be working for you to help you get the money that you're owed. However, this is not always the case. An insurance claims adjuster is hired by the insurance company to look into the claim and determine whether they need to pay for damages. While they may appear friendly and professional, it's important to remember that their job is to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. They may employ misleading tactics to trick you into taking a lower settlement amount than you deserve. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious and informed when dealing with insurance company adjusters to ensure your interests are protected during the claims process.

Insurance adjusters are employed by insurance companies, not the claimant

When you file an insurance claim, you are likely to deal most frequently with an insurance adjuster. An insurance adjuster, also known as a claims adjuster, is a professional tasked with assessing the damages, estimating costs, and offering settlements. While they may appear friendly and empathetic, it is important to remember that they are employed by the insurance company, not the claimant, and their primary objective is to minimise costs and maximise profits for their employer.

Insurance adjusters are trained to scrutinise claims, find loopholes, and negotiate settlements that align with the company's financial interests. They may employ misleading tactics and take advantage of information gaps to undervalue claims and limit compensation. For example, they may downplay the extent of coverage, delay the claims process, or attempt to get claimants to admit fault or make a mistake in their statements.

Therefore, it is crucial to approach insurance adjusters with caution and remember that their loyalty lies with the insurance company. Blindly trusting them with your insurance claim can result in undervalued settlements and limited compensation. To protect your interests, consider seeking professional advice, thoroughly understanding your policy, and documenting damages. Remember, it is your right to receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Their goal is to settle claims as quickly and cheaply as possible

An insurance adjuster is a representative of the insurance company and is tasked with assessing the damages, estimating costs, and offering settlements. While they may appear friendly and professional, it is important to remember that their goal is to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. This means that they will employ various tactics to trick you into taking a lower settlement amount than you deserve.

One common tactic is to avoid communication and cause frustration. Adjusters handle a large number of cases at once, so they may fail to answer or return your phone calls, hoping that you will get frustrated and give up. They may also use a lack of communication to their advantage by sending a small check without any prior negotiation, knowing that you may feel this is the only money you can recover from the claim.

Another tactic is to try to get you to admit fault for the accident or find ways to delegitimize your claim. For example, they may ask you a series of leading questions to get you to inadvertently admit partial responsibility for the incident. They may also try to use your medical records against you by obtaining your complete medical history and attempting to find an old injury or condition that they can blame for your current issues.

Insurance adjusters may also try to record you, hoping to catch you saying something that can be taken out of context and used against your claim. They might also delay the payment of your claim, knowing that you are in a financially vulnerable position and hoping that you will accept a lower settlement out of desperation.

In summary, while insurance adjusters may seem helpful, it is important to remember that they are working for the insurance company and their goal is to minimize payouts. To protect yourself, consider seeking professional advice, thoroughly understanding your policy, documenting damages, and engaging in independent appraisals.

They may use dirty tricks to get claimants to accept a lower settlement

When an insurance adjuster is assigned to your case, it is important to remember that they 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 achieve this, adjusters often employ misleading tactics to get claimants to accept a lower settlement than they deserve. Here are some of the tricks they may use:

• Lack of communication: Adjusters may avoid your calls and emails in the hopes that you will get frustrated and give up. They know that the longer they drag out the process, the more likely you are to accept a lowball offer just to put the whole event behind you.
• Requesting a recorded statement: Adjusters may ask for a recorded statement, implying that it is required by law. However, this is not true, and they are simply looking for ways to use your words against you and diminish the value of your claim.
• Delaying payment: Adjusters know that accident victims often face serious financial problems due to medical bills and lost income. They may delay the processing of your claim, hoping that you will settle for less out of desperation.
• Imposing arbitrary deadlines: Adjusters may claim that their settlement offer is only valid for a limited time. This is a scare tactic intended to pressure you into accepting a lowball offer.
• Proposing a quick settlement: Adjusters may offer an immediate payout in exchange for a full release. While this may seem appealing, accepting such a settlement means that you cannot recover additional costs that may arise from your injuries in the future.
• Misrepresenting insurance coverage: Adjusters may claim that the responsible party only has the minimum required liability coverage. However, there are often other types of coverage available that the adjuster is not disclosing.
• Discouraging you from hiring a lawyer: Adjusters do not want you to hire a lawyer because lawyers are familiar with the claims process and know how to negotiate a fair settlement. They may try to convince you that hiring a lawyer is unnecessary and will only make the process longer and more expensive.
• Refusing to negotiate: Even if you have strong evidence to support your claim, adjusters may still refuse to negotiate and stand firm on a low offer. They may claim that their hands are tied by company policy or your insurance policy.
• Surveillance: Adjusters may try to obtain video footage or social media evidence of you performing physical activities that contradict your claimed injuries. For example, they might find a video of you lifting a heavy box or going sailing soon after a car accident.
• Using your medical records against you: Adjusters may request access to your complete medical history, even records that are unrelated to your accident. They will then try to find an old injury or pre-existing condition that they can blame for your current injuries.

They are trained negotiators with more power than claimants

Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators who work for insurance companies. They are tasked with assessing damages, estimating costs, and offering settlements. While they may appear friendly and professional, it is important to remember that their primary goal is to resolve claims quickly and cheaply to save money for their employer. They are incentivised to get claimants to agree to lowball settlements as quickly as possible.

Adjusters are seasoned professionals with more power than claimants. They are adept at convincing policyholders to settle for less than they deserve. They scrutinize claims, find loopholes, and negotiate settlements that align with the company's financial interests. They may use misleading and deceptive tactics to trick claimants into accepting lower settlements. For example, they may delay communication or ask for recorded statements that can be used out of context to hurt your claim.

To protect your interests, it is important to seek professional advice, thoroughly understand your policy, document damages, and consider independent appraisals. Do not feel intimidated by the adjuster's job title or negotiating power. Remember that your insurance company must act in good faith, and you have the upper hand when it comes to negotiations.

They may delay the payment of your claim

An insurance adjuster is an employee of the insurance company and works to protect its interests. They are tasked with investigating and assessing the damage and determining the payout amount for the claim. While they may appear friendly and professional, their job is to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible.

One of the tactics they may employ to achieve this is to delay the payment of your claim. Here are some reasons why they may do this:

• To intimidate you into accepting a lower settlement offer. By prolonging the process, adjusters hope that you will eventually buckle under the pressure and settle for less than you deserve. They are aware that you are in a financially vulnerable position, with medical bills piling up and an inability to work. The longer they delay, the better the odds that you will accept a low settlement.
• To gather more information to devalue your claim. Adjusters are trained to scrutinize claims and find loopholes. By delaying, they can buy themselves more time to investigate and uncover information that could be used to dispute your claim.
• To wait for the statute of limitations on your claim to run out, after which you may be unable to take legal action against them.
• To secure as much interest revenue as possible. Insurance companies generate revenue by investing the money paid in premiums by policyholders. By delaying a payout, they can retain this money for longer and generate more interest revenue.

If you feel that your insurance adjuster is unreasonably delaying your claim, it is important to stay vigilant and communicate frequently with your insurance provider. You can also seek legal assistance to help navigate the process and ensure that you receive fair compensation.

Frequently asked questions