How to Deal with an Insurance Adjuster After a Lexington Car Accident

Most of us will get into a car accident at some point in our lives. The aftermath of a crash can be confusing, especially when you are dealing with injuries and property damage. Further complicating matters is often the insurance carriers and adjusters. You need to know how to deal with an insurance adjuster after a Lexington car crash. By being informed, you can work to recover the maximum settlement in your case.

During the latest reporting year in Kentucky, there were 158,171 total traffic collisions reported. Out of these crashes, there were a total of 724 fatalities and 33,914 injuries.

Things to Keep in Mind With an Insurance Adjuster

Getting a fair settlement isn’t as easy as insurance companies want you to think. Here are some crucial principles you should follow when dealing with an insurance adjuster:

1. The Insurance Adjuster is NOT Your Friend

Whether you are dealing with the adjuster from your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company, it is not the adjuster’s job to help you. The adjuster was hired to save the insurance company money on their claim. Sure, the adjuster may seem friendly over the phone or in person, but they want to develop a rapport with you. They want you to think they are on your side.

Insurance companies are “for-profit” entities, and they want to make as low of a settlement payment as possible. They will likely not advise you to hire a Lexington car accident attorney, even if you should.

2. Watch What You Say When Giving Recorded Statements

In most cases, you will be asked to make a recorded statement about how the accident happened and about the extent of your injuries. The adjuster may say that they cannot make any payments on your claim without your recorded statement. You should be careful when giving such statements and consider hiring an attorney to help with this process. If you do give a statement:

• Never volunteer information. Only answer the questions asked.
• Do not guess at an answer. If you do not know the answer to a question, do not answer. Questions like, “How fast was the other car going?” can be hard to answer, and you likely do not know the exact speed.
• Tell them when you are not sure. You can say things like, “To the best of my knowledge,” “I’m not completely sure,” and, “I may be missing some details.”

3. The Adjuster Will Use Tactics to Lower Your Claim

The adjusters may try to partially blame you for the crash in order to lower the amount they have to pay. They may also dispute some of your medical bills. They could use these tactics in order to lower your expectations on what a settlement may be so that when they make an offer, it seems “reasonable.” Remember, the adjuster’s job is to lower how much the insurance carrier pays.

Take Time to Speak to An Attorney

If you are injured in an accident that was caused by another person, you may need to speak with a Lexington car accident lawyer who understands all of the tactics used by insurance carriers and adjusters. You are likely entitled to much more compensation than is being offered, so please do not fall for the traps set down by an adjuster.