For most drivers or car owners who’ve had the misfortune of being involved in a car accident, claims adjusters can be their best friend or their worst enemy. But most likely, it is more of the latter as dealing with the claims adjuster after a car accident can be a real pain, especially if you’re not familiar with your policy or legally verbose.
For most drivers or car owners who’ve had the misfortune of being involved in a car accident, claims adjusters can be their best friend or their worst enemy. But most likely, it is more of the latter as dealing with the claims adjuster after a car accident can be a real pain, especially if you’re not familiar with your policy or legally verbose.
Car claims or insurance adjusters are the representatives of the insurance company so whether or not you’ll be compensated for any expenses or losses after a car accident shall be largely determined by them.
As the claim adjuster is tasked to interview the claimant and other parties, what you tell him can make or break your claim. So it is important to be wary of whatever statements you make before the claims adjuster – if you admit fault, it may even bar your recovery of damages under your insurance policy. Remember, insurance companies are businesses and as an employee, the claims adjuster would seek to pay you as little as possible or even try to avoid liability.
Here is a quick how-to on dealing with a claims adjuster after a car accident in order to make sure you get paid the settlement offer you deserve:
• Be prepared to answer questions about your condition after the accident. Try to be as clear and concise when giving details about how the accident occurred, how the other party acted, and what your doctor said about your injury. Be patient in answering these questions because if you refuse to give a clear picture of the damages you suffered in the accident or even inadvertently admit fault, you may not be compensated by your insurance company.
• Present evidence of your claims. Insurance adjusters also need to look into police and hospital records in order to determine the company’s liability. So it is of utmost importance that you also have a copy of the police report, medical reports, or any estimates made by a reputable mechanic on the status of your vehicle to help you prove how much you actually need to be paid for the settlement.
• Don’t be afraid to question the settlement offer and the basis of such determination. Most claims adjusters throw around a lot of technical terms such as depreciation, replacement costs, and actual cash value – this may intimidate you and make you quickly accept the first settlement offer even if it’s lower than you anticipated. If you don’t understand the reasons behind the settlement and you don’t think it is enough, don’t be afraid to ask why or later on, negotiate.
• Remember, do not immediately accept the first settlement offer. Chances are, this offer can still go higher but most claims adjusters would want to settle right away to avoid further expenses and to cut the costs to as low as possible. Be patient until you get a proper medical examination as well as estimates on how much your medical treatment and rehabilitation would cost as well as the damage to your car.
• If the claims adjuster is being difficult or even unfair and your claim is taking too long and there are too many excuses despite a valid claim, hire the assistance of a lawyer. If you have a car accident attorney at your side to help you deal with your claims adjuster and insurance company, you can focus on getting better instead of getting stressed with chasing them for compensation.
