The aftermath of a car crash isn’t just emotionally overwhelming; it can also be financially devastating due to out-of-pocket medical expenses you may incur. During this time, one of the first points of contact you’ll likely have is with an insurance adjuster. Suppose it is your first time engaging with an insurance adjuster; you may mistake their friendliness as them being on your side.
In reality, their primary role is to assess the situation and determine ways to minimize your compensation on behalf of the insurance company they work for. Despite their cordial engagement, you should remember that an insurance adjuster is not on your side after a car crash.
What is the role of an insurance adjuster?
An insurance adjuster is an employee of an insurance company tasked with getting your side of the story following an accident. They usually call soon after the accident to:
- Evaluate your claim
- Verify the extent of your damages
- Offer you an initial settlement
Even though the adjuster isn’t necessarily against you, it’s important to remember that their loyalties lie with the insurance company they work for. Therefore, when they present themselves as friendly and helpful, remind yourself that this is just a way for them to get any information they can use to minimize the payout for the insurance company.
You might want to seek legal guidance before speaking with an insurance adjuster because they’ll scrutinize every detail, and you might unknowingly give them reasons to reduce the amount the insurance company offers.
Tactics an insurance adjuster may use
A common tactic an insurance adjuster may use is to get you to admit partial blame for the accident, even if that’s not how the accident played out. If they succeed in attributing a portion of the blame for the accident to you, the insurance company can have a reason to reduce the payout.
The insurance adjuster may also dispute the out-of-pocket medical expenses you had to incur in the aftermath of the accident. They may argue that not all the medical expenses were related to the accident. Thankfully, with a comprehensive medical report and all the medical receipts, you can prove that the expenses aren’t exaggerated.
It’s easy to assume that an insurance adjuster is on your side because of how friendly and helpful they seem to be. However, it’s crucial to remind yourself where their loyalties lie and to seek appropriate legal support when engaging with an insurance adjuster accordingly.