Insurance Adjuster Meeting: Understanding Your Role And Rights

An insurance adjuster wants to meet with you to reduce the value of your claim. They are not on your side and are not working for you. Their goal is to save money for the insurance company and to pay you as little as possible, as quickly as possible. They will use a variety of tactics to do this, including delaying the process, requesting unnecessary information, and asking for a recorded statement. They may also try to get you to admit fault for the accident or say something that could hurt your claim. It is important to remember that you are not obligated to speak with the insurance adjuster and that it is in your best interest to consult with a personal injury attorney before doing so.

They want to pay as little as possible, as quickly as possible

The insurance adjuster is not your friend. They are not there to write you a big check for what your case is truly worth. Insurance adjusters are there to save their company money and will use a variety of tactics to do so. They want to pay out as little as possible, as quickly as possible.

One of the most common reasons insurance companies contact you after an accident is to obtain information to use against you. They will try to get you to admit fault for the accident or say something that could hurt your claim. They may also try to pressure you into accepting a lowball offer before you even know the extent of your injuries or the value of your claim.

Insurance adjusters are trained to sound friendly and approachable. They want you to open up to them so that you say more than you need to, and let your guard down. They may even offer a settlement during the first one or two phone calls. Quick settlements save the insurance company work and get you to settle for a small amount before you fully understand what your injuries are and how much your claim is worth.

Remember, the insurance adjuster has their company's best interests in mind, not yours. Their objective is to get you to accept the lowest amount of money possible in the shortest amount of time. They may also request unnecessary information or ask for a recorded statement, which they can then use against you.

The best way to protect yourself is to hire a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney who can guide you through the process and combat less-than-ethical practices by adjusters. An attorney can accurately calculate your pain, suffering, and trauma and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

They want to obtain information to use against you

One of the most common reasons insurance companies may want to meet with you after an accident is to obtain information to use against you and reduce the value of your claim. Insurance adjusters are trained to sound friendly and approachable, but their goal is to save money for their employer by limiting payouts. They are not working for you and will try to get you to settle for a lower amount than what you are owed. Here are some tactics they may use to obtain information against you:

• Getting you to admit fault for the accident: They may ask you a series of questions to get you to admit fault or partial liability for the accident, which can reduce the amount of money you can recover.
• Delaying tactics: Adjusters may delay the process to frustrate you and increase the likelihood of you settling for less money out of desperation.
• Requests for unnecessary information: They may request documents or information that are unrelated to your injury or claim to stall or discredit your claim.
• Recorded statements: Insurance adjusters may ask for a recorded statement, which they can later take out of context and use against you.
• Using your medical records: By obtaining your medical history, they may try to argue that your injuries were pre-existing or caused by something else.
• Surveillance: In some cases, insurance adjusters may even resort to surveillance or checking your social media to catch you doing something that can hurt your claim.

It is important to remember that you are not required to speak directly with an insurance adjuster. You have the right to consult with an attorney, who can guide you through the process and protect your interests.

They want to assess your claim in good faith

An insurance adjuster wants to meet with you to assess your claim in good faith. This means that they are legally required to treat you with honesty, reasonableness, and fairness. While this is the case, it is important to remember that insurance adjusters are also trying to save their company money and will try to pay out as little as possible. They may use various tactics to do this, such as delaying the process, requesting unnecessary information, or asking for a recorded statement. This is why it is recommended that you hire a personal injury attorney to handle interactions with insurance adjusters and protect your rights. An attorney can help you navigate the process and ensure that you receive a fair settlement. They will also have a better understanding of your case and can consider factors such as the long-term impact of your injuries and the cost of vehicle repairs.

When meeting with an insurance adjuster, it is important to remain calm and polite, even if you are angry about the accident. Get the contact information of the person you are speaking with and the insurance company they represent. Provide only basic personal information, such as your full name, address, and phone number, and do not discuss your medical history or income. Refuse to give a detailed statement about the accident or your injuries, as this information may be used against you. Instead, state that your investigation is ongoing and that you will provide more details at a later time. Be wary of early settlement offers, as they are often lower than what you are owed. It is also recommended that you refuse to give recorded statements, as this can be used as evidence that may be challenging to correct or expand on later.

They want to settle your claim as soon as possible

An insurance adjuster wants to meet with you to settle your claim as soon as possible. This is because insurance adjusters are often incentivised by their companies to settle claims quickly, with as little payout as possible. The insurance company makes money by holding on to it, not by paying it out. The less they pay you, and the longer they can make you wait, the more money they make.

The insurance adjuster will likely try to contact you within the first few days after the incident, but it will almost certainly be within the first few weeks. One of the adjuster's goals here is to get you to accept a quick settlement offer before you understand what your claim is worth.

If you've been injured in an accident, you might not feel up to battling it out with the other side's insurance adjuster. A personal injury attorney won't be intimidated by an adjuster's tactics and will make sure every angle of your claim is presented in the best possible light to ensure a fair result.

• Remain calm and polite. Although you may still be angry about the accident and your injuries, taking out your anger on the insurance adjuster won't help you get a fair settlement.
• Identify the person you are speaking with. Get their name, phone number, email address, the name of the insurance company they work for, and the name of the person or business the company insures.
• Give only limited personal information. You only need to tell the insurance adjuster your full name, address, and phone number. You can also tell them what type of work you do and where you are employed, but you don't need to discuss anything else about your work, schedule, or income.
• Give no details of the accident or your injuries. Politely refuse to discuss any of the facts except the most basic details, such as where and when the accident happened, the type of accident, and the identity of any witnesses. Say that your investigation of the accident is still continuing and that you will discuss the facts further at the appropriate time.
• Resist the push to settle immediately. Insurance adjusters sometimes offer a settlement during the first one or two phone calls. Quick settlements save the insurance company work and get you to settle for a small amount before you fully understand what your claim is worth. Don't take the bait.
• Set limits on conversations. Make it clear that you will not be discussing much on the phone and that you will only give very limited information.
• Refuse to give recorded statements. You are not legally obligated to be recorded, and it is against the law for an adjuster to record you without your permission. Politely but firmly decline an adjuster's request to record your statements, saying that you're not comfortable with any kind of recording.

They want to limit possible payouts

Insurance adjusters are trained to limit payouts and save their company money. They do this by using a variety of clever tactics, such as delaying the process, requesting unnecessary information, and asking for recorded statements that can be used against the claimant later. They will also try to get claimants to accept a quick and low settlement offer before they understand the extent of their injuries and the value of their claim.

• Delaying the process: Adjusters may delay providing a settlement in the hope that the claimant will accept a lower offer out of desperation to avoid financial difficulties.
• Requesting unnecessary information: They may ask for documents that are irrelevant to the injury, aiming to stall the claim and find information to discredit it.
• Asking for recorded statements: Insurance adjusters often request recorded statements so that they can take things out of context and use them against the claimant later.
• Offering low settlement amounts: Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible, so adjusters will often make a low initial offer, knowing that it can be negotiated later.
• Pressuring claimants to accept a quick settlement: Adjusters may pressure claimants to accept a settlement before they fully understand the extent of their injuries and the value of their claim.
• Using friendly tones and creating a comfortable atmosphere: Insurance adjusters may try to build a friendly rapport with claimants to make them feel comfortable and more likely to accept a lower settlement offer.
• Challenging future expenses: Claims adjusters may dispute future expenses such as future medical expenses or a decrease in the victim's future earning potential.
• Targeting subjective areas of compensation: They may downplay the impact of pain, suffering, and other intangible losses, which are difficult to assign a specific monetary value.
• Using pre-existing conditions to limit claims: Some adjusters will argue that the defendant is not responsible for triggering a pre-existing condition, even though the law holds a defendant responsible for exacerbating underlying conditions.

Frequently asked questions