What An Insurance Adjuster Will Ask After An Auto Accident And How To Answer Their Questions
After you are in an accident and there is damage to your property and/or you’ve been injured, you will need to inform your insurance company. The other driver will have to inform their insurance company as well. Once the insurance companies are notified of the accident and the potential damages, they will have you speak with an insurance adjuster. It is very critical that you are careful when speaking to an insurance adjuster after an accident because you could inadvertently hurt your case if you say the wrong thing.
What Is An Insurance Adjuster
Insurance adjusters are essentially investigators. Their job is to investigate the details of the accident and determine if the insurance company must pay for the damages. They look at the property damage, your injuries, and review your insurance policy. They will then determine the value of the accident and how much the insurance should pay in a claim. An important thing to remember about insurance adjusters is they are not your friends. They work for the insurance company and are there to protect the financial interests of the insurance company. So they will do everything they can to get out paying for a fair settlement.
Speaking With An Insurance Adjuster
When you speak with an insurance adjuster, it’s important to remember they are not on your side. Understanding the types of questions they typically ask and how to respond can help you protect your interests. Here are some of the common things they may ask and how you can answer them to stay safe:
● Personal Information: They will ask you for your personal information. Stick to your name, phone number, and address. If they ask about your work, you can tell them your employer and job title, but provide no more details.
● Accident Details: The insurance adjuster will ask all kinds of questions about the accident. They will be very friendly about this, but be careful. Always keep in mind they are not your friend and can potentially use anything you say against you. Only answer with straightforward facts like:
○ Where and when the accident happened
○ The vehicles involved
○ Any witnesses at the scene
If the insurance adjuster presses you for more information, just say that you don’t know and the investigation is still ongoing. Most importantly, never admit that you were at fault for the accident.
● Injury Information: The insurance adjuster will also ask about your injuries. Do not provide any details about your injuries whatsoever as whatever you say will be used to get out of paying you a fair settlement. If they begin to pressure you, just tell them they will have to get off the phone.
● Access To Medical Records: They will also ask for your consent to access your medical records. Never allow this access. The insurance adjuster will use it to dig up similar injuries from your past to try to get out of paying you a fair settlement.
● Record A Statement: They will also ask you to provide a recorded statement. Again, do not ever agree to being recorded. They will use this recording against you. If they press you, get off the phone.
One thing to remember is that legally; you don’t have to answer any of their questions. So if you feel uncomfortable, end the conversation.
An Attorney Can Help
One of the best things about hiring an accident attorney is they will take over all communication with the insurance company. They will make sure that they are not asking unfair questions or are bullying you into saying something to use against you later. Attorneys will protect your rights and make sure that the insurance companies don’t bully you into accepting a lowball offer.
At Justice Pays, we know all the tricks of the insurance adjusters. When you work with us, we will protect you from their tricks and fight for your right to a fair settlement. Give us a call at 1-833-954-1234 to learn more.
