The titles of insurance claims adjusters vary depending on the companies for which they work, but their duties are essentially identical. An insurance company’s potential liability for a car accident is determined by a claims adjuster, who then attempts to settle the claim for as little as possible.
Since an insurer is always looking to pay as little as possible to settle all claims, the adjuster’s goal is typically to get victims to accept lowball settlement offers quickly. Similarly, an adjuster is frequently compensated for completely denying a claim, resulting in the insurance company paying nothing.
It is essential for individuals to realize that claims adjusters are never on the victim’s side, regardless of how friendly or sincere they may appear. Instead, they are intent on discovering ways to discredit and devalue your claim. However, you are not required to deal with adjusters on your own. By hiring a car accident attorney to represent you, you can delegate all communication with the insurance company to them.
What To Tell An Insurance Adjuster Following A Car Accident?
In dealing with car accident victims, claims adjusters commonly employ a variety of time-tested techniques. When an adjuster first contacts a victim, one of the first things they will likely be told is how the insurance company understands and accepts its responsibility, and the victim will not be required to pay for a lawyer.
In some instances, adjusters will tell victims that they will be able to keep a larger portion of their settlement if they do not hire an attorney. This is frequently a sneaky tactic that could prove disastrous for the accident victim. After determining that a victim does not have legal representation or plans to hire one, an insurance adjuster will frequently attempt to obtain a recorded statement.
You should refuse to provide a recorded statement to a claims adjuster until counsel represents you. Even innocent-sounding questions posed by adjusters are designed to elicit responses from victims that could be detrimental to future injury claims.
How To Avoid Having An Insurance Claim Rejected?
On a monthly basis, insurance adjusters frequently handle multiple claims. Victims have only one claim, so they must remember that they almost always have a better understanding of what occurred.
Typically, a car accident victim’s chances of receiving a higher settlement can be improved by providing an adjuster with the evidence required to demonstrate the damages. Photographs of injuries and copies of medical records can be of great assistance.
The victims must keep in mind that the estimates provided for medical coverage in numerous settlement offers exclude very real costs already incurred and substantial future expenses. Uninsured motorist insurance can be very advantageous in this regard, but it occasionally causes serious problems.
A person should also ensure that any insurance claim is filed according to the insurer’s stated requirements in order to avoid some of the most common reasons for claim denial, which include:
- Incomplete application
- No valid driver’s license
- Failure to pay premiums
- Failure to report the incident within time limits
- Failure to seek medical attention
- The wrong type of claim
Conclusion
Our car accident lawyers at Garcia and Phan will discuss your case and help you understand your legal options. Call us today at (714) 586-8298 for a free consultation.