The Call To Be Wary: How To Handle The Insurance Adjuster Call
Posted on: 8 December 2018
Car accidents can upset your life in ways that surprise you. Just the trauma and shock of the event can be difficult to deal with—even if you are not badly hurt. If you add up an injury and the resulting physical struggles, a wreck can cause what feels like unending stress. Not only will stress place a greater burden on your ability to heal from your injuries, but it might also cause you to make mistakes that could hurt your chances of earning personal injury compensation. For example, you might easily underestimate the need to be wary when you are phoned by the insurance adjuster. Read on to learn more.
What Is the Stated Purpose of this Call?
Insurance adjusters are just doing their jobs when they phone accident victims. As part of the investigation by the other driver's insurance carrier, the adjusters must gather information about the accident. That does not mean, however, that you can speak freely to the adjuster. What you say can be too easily misconstrued to let your guard down.
What Is the Real Purpose of the Call?
Not only are you participating in the investigation of the wreck when you speak to the adjuster, but you are also helping determine one of the most important aspects of an accident claim: liability. While some accidents are caused by the actions of a single driver, some accidents are more complicated. You may or may not have taken actions that contributed to the accident. If the result of the investigation finds that you are partially at fault, your financial compensation will be reduced considerably. This is known as "shared liability."
It's All About the Money
When the other driver is 100 percent at fault for the wreck, their insurance company must pay you, and they may be on the line for far more. When you seek compensation using a personal injury attorney, the other driver's insurance carrier might have to come up with funds to cover the following accident-related money damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Repair or replacement of your wrecked vehicle
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
Take Action and Avoid that Call
You might not hear this information from the other guy's insurance adjuster, but you don't have to speak to the insurance adjuster for the other side. When you do, the adjuster will use several methods that might have you saying something (on the record) that can damage your ability to seek compensation. Why take the change of ruining your case when it's not necessary to do so? You might need to speak to your own insurance carrier but speak to your personal injury attorney for some advice before you do so. In fact, handing the burden of dealing with your case over to a personal injury attorney is a smart move, so contact a law firm like Walsh & Associates, PC right away.
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