Your car was involved in an accident. When filing a claim with your insurance company, you want to ensure you get a fair settlement.
What is the best way to deal with an insurance adjuster?
Here are 10 Tips To Help You When Dealing with Your Insurance Adjuster After a Boynton Beach Car Accident:
#1: Your insurance adjuster is not on your side
Before anything else, it is crucial to understand what a claims adjuster does. Insurers are responsible for investigating accidents and determining how much (if anything) the company must pay out.
Your insurance adjuster is employed by your insurance company and not by you. Therefore, it is not the adjuster’s responsibility to assist you with filing a successful claim but to ensure that the insurance company pays as little as possible in a motor vehicle accident.
#2: Do not admit fault
Do not admit fault, even if you are partially at fault for a car accident. You are not responsible for determining who was at fault for the accident. Your lawyer should handle that matter. There is no doubt that an insurance adjuster will try to get injured car accident victims to accept a portion of the blame for their own injuries. That’s because the state of Florida is a comparative negligence state. The adjuster may be able to decrease your settlement offer by a substantial amount if they can convince you to accept partial blame.
#3: Do not give a recorded statement
When dealing with insurance adjusters, people make the mistake of agreeing to provide a recorded statement. Although you want a record of your accident claim, you also do not want to say anything that could be used against you by the insurance company.
Your goal should be to provide only the required information when filing your claim. Before the insurance adjuster can talk you into a wrong decision, you should get off the phone. The adjuster will try to record every call and use it against you if they can.
#4: Understand that everything you say will be used against you
Other parties’ statements can be powerful evidence. When the case goes to court, they may use what you told the insurance adjuster against you. They will likely try to twist your words or embellish your meaning. Insurance adjusters do not work for you. They work for the insurance company so be very careful what you say.
#5: Don’t sign a medical release
The insurance adjuster may request a medical release after filing an insurance claim. There is no need for you to sign it, and it is generally not advisable for you to do so unless your lawyer advises you otherwise.
Insurance companies can obtain extensive information about claimants’ medical histories through medical releases. The insurance adjuster may use your medical records to claim that your injuries come from a pre-existing condition. This tactic may result in losing out on the compensation you are entitled to.
#6: Keep a record of all your communications
Be sure to document all communications with the insurance adjuster. Take notes after all phone calls, emails, and text messages.
Maintaining detailed notes will help you track the progress of your claim. Furthermore, your lawyer will need to know what has happened so far with your claim if you decide to hire one.
#7: Understand your rights as a policyholder
When you are involved in an accident, do not rely on the adjuster to tell you what your insurance will cover. Be sure that you understand all of the details of your auto insurance policy, from your right to choose the repair shop to your right to original equipment manufacturer parts and more.
#8: Keep track of your accident-related losses
As the adjuster’s job is to find the cheapest resolution for your claim, the driver must document the costs incurred and damages sustained due to the accident. You might be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, repairs or replacement of your vehicle, pain, and suffering, and more if the other driver was at fault for the crash.
Keep records to prove how much you are entitled to recover as you incur costs, miss work, and deal with the effects of your injuries. You cannot rely on the insurance adjuster for help in this area, so remain organized and take the initiative.
#9: Do not accept a settlement without a lawyer
Liability is relatively straightforward in some cases of car accidents. There may be no effort made by the insurance company to dispute fault. The company may simply accept that the driver is at fault. Good news, right? Not quite. The reason is that when there is no dispute over fault, insurance adjusters are required to use different tactics and strategies to protect the company’s interests.
In other words, insurance adjusters will try to limit the total amount of the settlement offer. This is done by making a low settlement offer in order to get the victim to give up their claim before they realize the actual value of their damages. Do not accept any quick settlement offer. Do not take anything less than you deserve.
#10: Seek lawyer representation
It is extremely difficult to handle a car accident claim on your own. It is in your best interest to have an experienced car accident attorney deal with the insurance company on your behalf, even if there is only minor damage or injury.
In addition to helping you avoid critical mistakes in your claim, a car accident lawyer will also be able to gather evidence of your losses and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. The insurance company will also see that you are committed to protecting your rights by hiring a lawyer. A lawyer can make a huge difference in how the insurance company handles your claim.
Contact a Boynton Beach Car Accident Attorney Today
In most cases, victims of car accidents assume that their insurance company will treat them fairly. However, this is never the case.
Accident victims are frequently cheated by insurance adjusters using a variety of tricks. A knowledgeable attorney can help you avoid making a mistake.
You can rely on us to provide the care you need when you are most vulnerable and fight for your compensation. To discuss your car accident claim with the Bodden and Bennett Law Group, please contact us online or call (561) 806-5229 today. Our consultation is free.
