Auto Insurance Claims Adjusters

After you are in a car accident that someone else caused, you will need to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company in order to get the money that you need for the damages that you incurred, both to your property and person. During this process, the insurance company will assign a claims adjuster to your case who will go through all of the relevant details of the accident, including the cause, finding fault, and determining the cost of your injuries before making you a settlement offer.

Claims adjusters may be very helpful and friendly during this process, but you must always remember that they are employees of the insurance company and that their primary job is to minimize the amount of money that the insurance company must pay you in order to eliminate the possibility of any future legal issues. When you are working with a car accident lawyer, they will help you through each step of this phase in a way that covers you from any missteps that could impact your settlement amount.

Read more below about what to expect while you are working with an auto insurance claims adjuster, and contact us now to get connected with an aggressive and experienced personal injury attorney who can help you make the most of your case. 1-800-Injured can help reduce the stress of finding the right lawyer for your case so that you can focus on the important things like your recovery.

WHAT IS A CLAIMS ADJUSTER?

Once an insurance company receives a claim from someone who suffered damages as a result of their client’s actions, they will begin a process of investigation in order to determine that the claim is accurate and that the amount that they ultimately pay is reasonable. In the case of a car accident, they will investigate the claims of damage to property as well as physical injuries that are included. 

After they complete their investigation, they will calculate the insurance company’s liability, and devise a strategy to convince the victims or claimants to accept as little as possible in order to protect the insurance company’s bottom line.

WHAT DOES A CLAIMS ADJUSTER DO?

Claims adjusters are very detailed in their work, and will set out to interview eyewitnesses, gather medical and police reports, examine the damage that is being claimed, and work out a value for these damages. In addition, they will work directly with anyone who has suffered from personal injuries in order to get a better idea of the impact of these injuries and the steps that they have taken in order to remedy the issues, among other things. 

Oftentimes, a claimant will need to undergo an independent medical examination if they are seeking compensation for personal injury damages, which will be considered along with any medical records that the claimant has from their own doctor or other medical professionals that they have worked with. During this examination, the doctor (who is contracted by the insurance company and working with the claims adjuster) will identify any and all possible details that can reduce the company’s liability, and therefore reduce the amount that they will offer to you. If possible, schedule an appointment with your own doctor for the same day and have them do the same examination, so that you can present two different accounts of the injuries to show if there are any discrepancies. 

HIRING AN ATTORNEY DURING A CLAIMS INVESTIGATION

When you are working with a claims adjuster, you can be certain that they will try to make the process as simple and smooth as possible so that you feel that you can do it on your own. This is just another tactic by the company as a way to hopefully limit the amount that they have to pay to you, by making you feel as if you don’t need an attorney. During your interviews with the claims adjuster, they will take statements from you that they will then analyze and try to find ways to use them in a manner that reduces their liability and places some of the responsibility on you. 

When you are working with an attorney, you can be confident that every interaction you have with the adjuster is carefully thought out by a legal professional who is experienced in this process. If your attorney has been present through the entire investigation, they will have all of the information they need when it comes time to negotiate after the company makes you an offer. If you wait until the insurance company makes their first offer, there have likely already been many times where an attorney would have recognized a possible issue and helped you to avoid it, and take all necessary steps to show the adjuster that you mean business.

CONTACT US TODAY

The best time to hire an attorney after a car accident is at the first moment you are able to get to a phone. The second best time to hire an attorney is right now. Contact 1-800-Injured now to be connected with an experienced attorney who can help you navigate this process with confidence and strategy.