Insurance Adjuster
One of the most critical figures in the insurance claims process in Charlotte, NC, is the insurance adjuster. The adjuster’s conduct and the amount offered to resolve a claim can significantly influence the outcome of a case.
Understanding the role of an insurance adjuster and their responsibilities throughout the claims process is essential.
Role of the Insurance Adjuster
Insurance adjusters handle the claim process. They investigate the case. For example, if they are contacted about a car accident claim, they might do the following:
- Visit the accident scene
- Review the accident report
- Interview witnesses
- Review photos or videos of the accident
- Look at the damage to the vehicle and/or review inspection reports
The insurance adjuster reviews the insurance policy to determine if it covers the accident. The insurance adjuster might also request and review medical records for injuries stemming from the accident.
If they determine that insurance coverage applies, they may make a settlement offer to try to resolve the claim without litigation.
Who the Insurance Adjuster Works For
While West Virginia permits the use of public adjusters who independently evaluate claims, most insurance adjusters are employed directly by insurance companies. As a result, interactions with insurance adjusters should be approached with caution.
An insurance adjuster’s primary responsibility is to protect the financial interests of the insurer. This objective often conflicts with a claimant’s goal of securing full and fair compensation. It is important to keep in mind that an insurance adjuster does not represent the claimant’s interests.
Insurance Adjuster Tactics You Should Be Aware Of
Insurance adjusters may employ various tactics to try to minimize the insurance company’s exposure and liability, such as:
Pretending To Be Your Friend
The insurance adjuster may appear to be friendly and concerned about your health and well-being. However, this may simply be a tactic to get you to let your guard down. Then, when it’s time to discuss money, they may try to downplay your injuries or pretend they are making a fair offer, hoping to benefit from the rapport they previously established with you.
Requesting Signed Medical Release Forms
Claiming to be helpful and that it will expedite your insurance claim, insurance adjusters might ask you to sign medical release forms. However, when they do this, they are often going on a fishing expedition for any pre-existing injury or prior accident to blame your current injuries on.
Making a Fast Settlement Offer
Insurance adjusters may make you a fast settlement offer. You might even be initially grateful for this. However, this type of offer is often much lower than the true value of claims. Early in the settlement process, you may not know the full extent of your injuries.
You may need ongoing medical care, which can be difficult to estimate before you reach maximum medical improvement. Agreeing to a settlement early may leave money on the table that you might desperately need in the future.
Demanding a Recorded Statement
Some insurance adjusters may say that it is the insurance company’s policy to take recorded statements before they can process a claim. However, you are under no legal obligation to provide a recorded statement to someone else’s insurance company pre-litigation.
Insurance adjusters use recorded statements to:
- Blame you for the accident
- Lock in statements that are later contradicted by the evidence
- Get inconsistent statements from claimants that they can later use to question your credibility
- Get you to admit that you are “fine” so that they can dispute your medical care
- Get you to say that your injuries are not as serious as they really are before you understand your full diagnosis
- Lock in statements while the accident victim is under the influence of strong medications
It is usually best to avoid giving a recorded statement and to refer the insurance company to your personal injury lawyer.
Blaming You for the Accident
Insurance companies may try to blame you for the accident to avoid paying any compensation or to reduce the amount of compensation you receive significantly.
Disputing Your Medical Care
Insurance adjusters may try to dispute the necessity or reasonableness of your medical care to reduce the amount they pay for your medical bills.
Delaying Your Claim Unnecessarily
Some insurance companies train their adjusters to delay the process of recovering a settlement. This is intended to frustrate claimants into accepting any pittance the insurance company offers, or to become so frustrated that they abandon their claim.
These delay tactics may include:
- Not acknowledging a claim
- Asking for unnecessary information
- Asking for the same information again and again
- Not returning phone calls or emails
- Passing deadlines
- Trying to make the claim exceed the statute of limitations
If the insurance company that is taking these actions is your own, you may be able to file a bad-faith insurance complaint.
Trying To Convince You Not To Hire a Lawyer
An insurance company may attempt to dissuade a claimant from seeking legal representation by asserting that it has accepted responsibility for the claim. However, acceptance of responsibility does not necessarily mean the insurer will offer fair or adequate compensation.
In some cases, insurance adjusters may suggest that hiring an attorney is unnecessary or that legal fees will diminish a claimant’s recovery. However, claimants who retain experienced legal counsel often obtain higher compensation overall, even after accounting for attorneys’ fees, making independent legal guidance advisable.
A Charlotte Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence in Charlotte, NC, you don’t have to deal with the insurance adjuster alone. The legal team at Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers can handle these interactions on your behalf when you hire us for your personal injury claim.
Contact us today at (704) 980-9999 to take advantage of a free consultation.