Your Auto Insurance Adjuster: What They Do And Don't

Dealing with insurance companies and adjusters can be a tricky business, especially after a car accident. It is important to remember that insurance adjusters work for insurance companies and are not on your side. Their job is to settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible, so they can save money for their employer. They have no financial interest or gain from your claim outcome.

An auto insurance adjuster will be assigned to your case to assess the damage to your property and assist you through the claim process. They will interview you and any witnesses, gather police and hospital reports, and contact your medical provider to determine expenses. They will also take photographs of the damage and may ask you to send your car to a repair shop for an estimate.

It is advisable to speak to an experienced attorney before signing any waiver or recorded statement, as adjusters may try to trick you into taking a lower settlement amount than you deserve. They may also delay payment or avoid communication to cause frustration and pressure you into accepting a lowball offer.

Remember, you don't have to sign a medical release or provide more personal information than is necessary. You also have the right to choose your own body shop for repairs, and to negotiate a fair settlement.

Auto insurance adjusters are not on your side

• Their goal is to minimise payouts: Insurance adjusters are employed by insurance companies, and their primary objective is to settle claims quickly and cheaply to save money for their employer. They will use various tactics to persuade you to accept a lower settlement than you deserve.
• They may employ deceptive tactics: Adjusters may use misleading tactics, such as delaying responses or avoiding communication, to frustrate you and pressure you into accepting a lowball settlement offer. They may also try to trick you into admitting fault or finding ways to delegitimise your claim.
• They don't have your best interests in mind: While adjusters may present themselves as objective parties, they are biased towards the insurance company. They are not looking out for your best interests and will work to protect the company's profits.
• They may take advantage of your situation: Knowing that you are under financial strain after an accident, adjusters may delay payments or dangle meagre settlement offers, hoping that you will accept out of desperation.
• They may invade your privacy: Adjusters may request access to your medical records or surveillance footage to find ways to reduce their client's liability. They may try to use unrelated information from your past to minimise the appearance of injury or damage.
• They may discourage legal representation: Insurance adjusters may try to convince you that hiring an attorney is unnecessary or costly. This is because they know that involving a lawyer will likely result in a higher payout, and they want to limit the amount they have to pay.

To protect yourself, it is recommended to consult an experienced attorney who can guide you through the claims process and ensure you receive fair compensation. Remember, auto insurance adjusters are working for the insurance company, not for you.

They will try to resolve the case for as little compensation as possible

It is important to remember that insurance adjusters are employed by insurance companies and, as such, their primary goal is to save their employer money. This means that they will try to resolve your case for as little compensation as possible. While they may appear friendly and professional, they are not on your side.

One way they do this is by employing a wide array of misleading tactics to trick you into taking a lower settlement amount than you deserve. For example, they may try to get you to admit fault in the accident, or delay the process to frustrate you enough that you make a mistake. They may also try to record you, as it is much easier to make mistakes in verbal communication than in written communication. A simple “I'm fine” in response to a “How are you feeling today?” can make your injuries appear to be much less serious and extensive than they are.

Another tactic is to avoid communication with you, in the hope that you will get frustrated enough to give up or that the statute of limitations on your claim will run out. They deal with the claim process akin to a war of attrition. Once the injured party reaches a breaking point, the adjuster knows that it will be easier to sell them on a lowball settlement offer, so they can just put the whole event behind them and move on.

In some cases, adjusters may even go as far as to employ bad faith tricks to lower the potential payout. For example, they may try to use your own medical records against you. They will have to obtain a signed authorisation from you to access your medical records, and they may request records completely unrelated to your accident, going back years before the injury even occurred. They do this to try to find someone or something else to blame for your injury.

Remember, insurance adjusters are not your friend. They work for an insurance company that is only interested in limiting the money they have to pay out to claimants like you.

They will investigate accident sites, interview witnesses, and record statements

Auto insurance adjusters are responsible for investigating accident sites, interviewing witnesses, and recording statements. They act as detectives, fact-checking every detail of a case to determine fault and prevent fraud. They will visit the scene of the accident, taking photographs and videos of the damage to vehicles and property. They will also interview witnesses and passengers, gathering statements and accounts of the incident. This information will be used to determine who was at fault for the accident and if it is covered by the insurance policy.

It is important to remember that auto insurance adjusters work for insurance companies and are hired to protect their interests. They are not on your side. Adjusters will try to resolve cases with as little compensation as possible to save money for their employer. They have no financial interest in the outcome of your claim but will try to provide a positive experience and ensure all your expenses are covered. Most of the time, you will be paired with a friendly and empathetic adjuster who has been trained to deal with stressful situations.

When speaking to an auto insurance adjuster, it is important to be courteous and provide only the necessary personal information, such as your name, address, and phone number. You should discuss the generalities of the accident without naming specific witnesses or giving specific diagnoses. Be careful what you say, as anything you tell the adjuster may be used against you if the case goes to court. It is advisable to speak to a knowledgeable attorney before revealing any detailed information.

You are not required to consent to a recorded statement by an insurance adjuster, and you can decline this request. Recorded statements can be used against you, with answers taken out of context to hurt your claim. It is much easier to make a mistake in verbal communication than in writing.

They will assess the damage to your vehicle and any property

An auto insurance adjuster will assess the damage to your vehicle and any property. They will usually inspect the damage to your vehicle in person and take photographs. They will then write a report, confirming the damage to your vehicle and providing their own assessment of any damage from the accident.

The auto insurance adjuster will also inspect any property damage. This may include damage to objects that were being transported, or to items such as eyeglasses or clothing.

The auto insurance adjuster's report will be used to determine the value of your claim. If you are the owner of the damaged vehicle, you have the right to require the repair of damages or to be compensated for the damages by the amount of the vehicle's sale value. You can also claim for other material damages, such as the cost of a rental vehicle while your car is being repaired.

It is important to note that the auto insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, so they will be trying to save their employer money. This means that they may offer a settlement that is lower than what you are entitled to. You can negotiate with the insurance adjuster or their supervisor, or seek the help of a personal injury attorney if you are not satisfied with the offer.

They will determine your settlement value

An auto insurance adjuster's role is to investigate claims and determine the settlement value. They are hired by the insurance company to save them money and settle your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. While they may appear friendly, it's important to remember that they are not on your side.

When determining the settlement value, auto insurance adjusters must consider multiple factors, including your medical expenses, lost income, and financial losses due to missed work. They will review every document to get an accurate value of your injuries and damages.

• Material damage: This refers to the damage to your vehicle or property as a result of the traffic accident. The adjuster will confirm that the damages to your vehicle coincide with those declared in the accident report and provide their own assessment. As the owner of the damaged vehicle, you have the right to require the repair of damages, be compensated for the damages if you choose not to repair, or claim other material damages directly resulting from the accident.
• Medical expenses: The adjuster will contact your medical provider to determine the extent of your injuries and the associated costs. Be cautious when providing access to your medical records, as adjusters may try to use previous injuries or pre-existing conditions to reduce your claim.
• Lost income: Auto insurance adjusters will consider your lost income due to missed work and include this in the settlement value.
• Pain and suffering: Assessing the value of pain and suffering is more subjective. Many insurers use a multiplier to estimate the extent of your pain and suffering, which is then used to determine a potential jury award if the case went to trial.

Remember, auto insurance adjusters are not your enemy, and it is in everyone's best interest to settle the claim as smoothly as possible. However, they are not on your side, and their goal is to save money for the insurance company. As such, it is recommended to consult with an experienced attorney who can guide and protect you throughout the claims process.

Frequently asked questions