One of the most common pieces of advice given to new and old drivers alike is to call your insurance company immediately if you’re in an accident. This is sound advice; you’ll want to get the ball rolling quickly. But no one explains what to say when an insurance adjuster returns your call. Keep reading for four tips on how to talk to an insurance adjuster.
Do Stay Calm
Insurance adjusters aren’t your friend. They work to limit the liability of their company and save money on settlements. But they are human beings. Acting rude or aggressive may encourage them to stretch out the process or influence their decision about how they’ll award you. Being polite but firm may encourage the adjuster to work with you in your favor.
For a free legal consultation, call 434-817-3100
Don’t Give a Statement
While your insurance company may have a clause that forces you to make a statement to work with an adjuster, never agree to a statement when you talk to the adjuster of the other car’s owner. If you forget to add something in the statement, or an injury takes time to make itself known, the adjuster will argue that it wasn’t caused by the accident and deny coverage for those damages. Giving a statement about the accident will also give them evidence to use against your settlement.
Do Get the Adjuster’s Information
When you’ve made your initial call to your insurance company, you may end up only speaking to an operator who is taking your information to pass off to an adjuster. If this happens, you’ll want to ask for the claim number and the assigned adjuster’s name and contact information before you hang up the call. It’s a good idea to get this information even if your first point of contact is the adjuster themselves, but be sure to make it clear that you want to limit contact throughout the process. The more they talk to you, the more information you give to them can lower your settlement.
Don’t Admit Fault
The biggest tip for talking to an insurance adjuster is to never admit that you caused the accident. This not only means saying the words “I caused the accident,” but also any incriminating evidence, like the speed you were going when the accident happened. You also don’t want to be or sound apologetic, which can be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
If you follow these tips and still don’t think you’re receiving a fair settlement, you may need to seek legal advice. Call a car accident lawyer Tampa, FL from a firm like Jeff Murphy Law today to see if they can help you get the money you deserve.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form