When insurance companies are notified about a car accident, they will have an insurance adjuster handle the claim filed by victims. This adjuster will decide the amount the insurer must pay on this claim. The majority of insurance adjusters look concerned about the situation of claimants, but they are on the latter’s side. Indeed, they are only working for the insurance company’s interests. In a lot of cases, they work against claimants.
Insurance adjusters are trained to use casual conversations as they try to manipulate you into making statements about your claims that can be used against you. As a car accident victim, remember that an adjuster is working for the insurer, so they want to save their boss money by making sure you get paid for as little amount as possible. But insurance adjusters cannot take advantage of you if you have a New Jersey car accident attorney representing you. Your attorney will ensure you only provide the adjuster with basic details.
What Can You Say to an Adjuster?
If you have a legal representative, you don’t need to speak with an adjuster regarding your accident. You can just refer the adjuster to your lawyer. But if you have not hired a lawyer to manage your case, give the adjuster basic personal details such as your name and contact details. Do not give them other details like your employment status.
Other basic information you can share with the adjuster includes the accident date, time, and location, as well as the vehicles involved and the contact details of potential witnesses. Do not talk to them about how the crash took place. Also, don’t give them recorded or written statements about the crash.
Typically, claims adjusters coerce victims into giving them recorded statements. In fact, they may tell you that such a recording will protect your claim. Keep in mind that recorded conversations can haunt you and sabotage your claim.
What You Should Not Do
Never apologize or admit fault. The adjuster will look for reasons to minimize the liability of the insurer. Admitting negligence on your part may ruin your claim.
Additionally, do not discuss how you feel with the adjuster and never mention your current physical and mental health state. It’s important not to speculate about your possible injuries. These injuries might be more serious than you originally thought. This means that your initial statements might hurt your claim.
If you are getting calls from an insurance adjuster to discuss your car accident, hire a skilled car accident attorney. Your attorney will ensure you do not say anything that could ruin your claim.
