Dealing with personal injury insurance adjusters after an accident is often stressful, tiring and full of traps. The insurance adjuster will review all of the evidence, including an interview with you, to determine what you’re owed. One wrong statement can see your case crumble, leaving you underpaid or outright denied.
As award-winning Personal Injury Lawyers in Pinellas County, we’ve created these top tips for dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident:
Table of Contents
1. Work With a Pinellas County Personal Injury Lawyer
The best option when dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident is to work with a Pinellas County personal injury lawyer. Our experienced legal team will remove the burden and stress of dealing with these daunting insurance companies, so you can focus on recovery. You won’t need to worry about their phone calls or demanding letters. You won’t be manipulated or exploited. We’ll handle all communications. This can also allow you to gain the maximum possible settlement, by using evidence and investigations to reveal the true cost of your damages. If needed, we can use our extensive resources to use specialists who can also be used as evidence. We welcome you to contact us today for a free consultation:2. Remember Who They Work For
Our number one tip for dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident is always to remember that they work for the insurance company. Insurance companies are for-profit, and as an employee, an adjuster’s job is to reduce the company’s expenses. They will do everything they can to minimize the settlement you receive, or even deny your claim. This is important to remember because it’s easy to get tricked into thinking the insurance adjuster truly cares about you. They’re very good at being friendly. But in reality, they will have no qualms about breaking promises, ripping you off and giving you a bad settlement deal.3. Don’t Admit Fault
With the above in mind, you should remember to never admit fault. Insurance adjusters are very skilled at getting accident victims to start doubting what happened and to admit fault for the accident – even if you did nothing wrong. Take care to be strong in your defense, if you state how the accident went from your perspective. Your Pinellas County personal injury lawyer’s work to collect evidence will back up your claims.4. Keep a Record of Everything
We highly recommend that you keep a record of all communications with your insurance adjuster or adjusters. You can’t rely on your memory, for two reasons: we all forget things when emotions are high, but also because there’s no guarantee the insurance company will keep their word.Get Your Adjuster Name
At the start or end of every call, ask the person you are talking to for their name and surname. This can be very useful as you can ask to speak to the same person again, or refer to them during later communications.Record the Dates of the Call
Write down the date and time of each call you have. This can be useful to prove when you’ve been speaking to them and so they can potentially refer back to their own call recordings in the future. While not necessary, it’s also helpful to record the calls if you can on your phone.Take Notes
Most importantly, you should take notes of your communications with your insurance adjuster after an accident. Anything from explanations of how your claim will be handled, to figures and promises should be noted. This can prevent you from being exploited by pressure and communication. If the communications are done via email or letter, then store these documents safely.5. Get Promises in Writing
You’ll also want to get all promises from your insurance adjuster in written form. For example, if an insurance adjuster tells you that you’ll get at least $10,000 from them then ask them to provide you this in writing or via email. You can never rely on verbal promises. They can vanish as soon as they’re spoken.6. Never Sign a Waiver or Release Without Expert Advice
When dealing with an insurance adjuster after an accident, you may at some point be asked to sign either a waiver or a medical record release. Be very wary.Waivers
Waivers can be anything where you relinquish your rights in exchange for a promise. These are not necessary and should not be signed. A common example is “I agree to not work with a personal injury lawyer” or, “I agree to not make bad faith claims against the insurer”. That’s really something you don’t want to do, as then they could treat you however they like; from delaying and manipulation to unfair denials. Remember – you always have a right to legal help.Medical Records
You may be asked to provide copies of your medical records by the insurance adjuster. The insurance company has a right to review the relevant medical records, but you should request the review with a personal injury attorney before signing any releases. Why? Because the scope of documents they are demanding may be excessive, in a ploy to claim your injuries were pre-existing.7. Share Essential Information Only
Take the approach to only provide essential information. Such as:- Your full name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Information about your work
- Your schedule or hours worked
- Your income
- Your health history
8. Always Consider a Lawyer’s Opinion Before Accepting a Settlement Offer
It’s easy to want to grab the first offer you get with both hands – especially if you’ve been stressed about paying medical bills or missed wages during your recovery. But the first offer from an insurance company is almost always a lowball offer. If you accept that, you could be left paying out of your pocket for your ongoing recovery. We urge you to first consult a Pinellas County personal injury lawyer who can review your case and determine if your settlement offer matches the true cost of your damages. The settlement offer should detail exactly what the coverage is for; if there are any damages left out, then it’s time to negotiate with your lawyer. Read Related: How to Win a Big Settlement for Your Serious Injuries in Pinellas County9. The Importance of Evidence
Evidence is your strongest tool when dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident in Pinellas County. You’ll want to gather as much evidence to support your claim, proving:- You weren’t at fault for the accident
- What the true cause of the car accident was
- The extent of your injuries
- The damages you’ve suffered
- The true cost of your injuries
Collect Evidence of Your Accident
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene, if possible (or ask for photos from anyone else who may have taken them).
File a Police Report
If you haven’t already, then contact local law enforcement to file a police report. This is usually done at the scene of the accident, but you may not have yet been provided with the report. It’s wise to obtain a copy of it.Gain Medical Evidence
- Take photos of your injuries, day by day.
- Obtain doctors’ and/or specialist notes and reports
- Keep all x-rays and any other medical evidence.
- Obtain and keep all receipts of medical bills and related expenses
10. Question You May Be Asked By Your Insurance Adjuster
- Who was responsible for the accident?
- What did you do before the accident, and during it?
- Where were you going to or coming from before the accident?
- How do you feel today?
- Did you get hurt?
- How bad are your injuries?
- Did you get medical treatment and when?
- Have you missed any time off work following the accident?
- Was your seatbelt working correctly?
