Insurance adjusters seem friendly and helpful when they first contact you after an accident. They express concern about your wellbeing and offer to help you through the claims process. Don’t be fooled by this approach.
Our friends at Marsh | Rickard | Bryan, LLC discusses how adjusters use specific tactics designed to minimize what insurance companies pay you. A bad faith insurance lawyer understands these strategies because we deal with them daily on behalf of injured clients.
These nine tips will help you protect your interests when dealing with insurance adjusters.
1. Understand Their True Role
Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. Their job is protecting their employer’s bottom line by paying as little as possible on valid claims. Despite seeming sympathetic, they’re trained to reduce claim values through various tactics.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, adjusters handle hundreds of claims annually and use proven strategies to minimize payouts. They know you’re vulnerable, stressed, and unfamiliar with the claims process.
Remember that every interaction with an adjuster is part of their strategy to pay you less money.
2. Never Give a Recorded Statement
One of the first things adjusters request is a recorded statement about how the accident happened. They make it sound routine and necessary. It’s neither.
Recorded statements are designed to trap you into saying things that hurt your claim. Adjusters ask leading questions to get you to minimize injuries, contradict details from police reports, accept partial fault, or make statements they can use against you later.
You have no legal obligation to provide recorded statements to the other party’s insurance company. Politely decline and refer them to your attorney.
3. Stick to Basic Facts Only
If you must communicate with adjusters before hiring an attorney, provide only essential information. Share your name and contact information, the date and location of the accident, and basic factual details without speculation.
Never discuss:
- Your injuries or medical condition
- How the accident happened in detail
- Who you think was at fault
- Your medical history
- How the accident has affected your life
Save detailed discussions for your attorney who knows how to present information strategically.
4. Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer
Initial settlement offers almost always lowball your claim’s true value. Insurance companies hope you’ll accept quick money before understanding the full extent of your injuries and their long-term impact.
Some injuries require ongoing treatment for months or years. You might need future surgeries or develop complications. Once you sign a settlement release, you cannot reopen your case when you discover problems later.
We evaluate settlement offers based on comprehensive damage calculations that insurance companies’ initial offers rarely reflect.
5. Be Cautious About Medical Authorizations
Adjusters will ask you to sign medical authorization forms giving them access to your complete medical history. They’re looking for pre-existing conditions or past injuries to blame for your current condition.
Never sign blanket medical releases. If authorizations are necessary, limit them to treatment directly related to your accident. We review all authorization requests to protect your privacy while meeting legitimate needs.
6. Document Every Interaction
Keep detailed records of all communications with insurance adjusters. Note the date and time of calls, adjuster’s name and contact information, summary of what was discussed, and any requests they made.
Follow up phone conversations with written summaries sent via email. This creates a paper trail protecting you if adjusters later claim you said something you didn’t.
7. Don’t Rush Your Medical Treatment
Adjusters often pressure claimants to settle quickly before reaching maximum medical improvement. They might claim the offer expires soon or suggest delays will complicate your claim.
These are pressure tactics. Take the time you need to complete medical treatment and understand your injuries’ full impact. Rushing to settle before you’ve healed means potentially accepting inadequate compensation for ongoing medical needs.
8. Watch What You Post on Social Media
Insurance adjusters monitor your social media accounts looking for content they can use against you. That photo of you smiling at a family event becomes “proof” you’re not suffering. The post about running errands contradicts disability claims.
Make all accounts private immediately. Post nothing about your accident, injuries, legal case, daily activities, or anything else until your case resolves completely. Even innocent posts can be twisted out of context.
9. Get Legal Representation Early
The single best way to deal with insurance adjusters is having an attorney handle all communications for you. Once you hire legal representation, adjusters must contact your lawyer instead of calling you directly.
We know the tactics adjusters use because we see them constantly. We protect you from pressure to make quick decisions, evaluate settlement offers objectively, and negotiate from positions of strength rather than desperation.
Leveling the Playing Field
Insurance adjusters are professionals who handle claims daily. They use proven strategies to minimize payouts while making you feel like they’re helping. Facing them alone puts you at a severe disadvantage.
You deserve fair compensation for your injuries, not whatever amount the insurance company decides to offer. Professional legal representation protects your interests and dramatically improves your settlement outcomes.
Don’t let insurance adjusters take advantage of you during a vulnerable time. Contact an experienced attorney who will handle all adjuster communications, evaluate your claim’s true value, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve while you focus on recovering from your injuries.