What Does an Insurance Adjuster Do After a Car Accident?

Ask any personal injury attorney for advice on what to do after a car accident, and you will probably be told to seek medical attention, call the police, and of course, avoid talking to the insurance adjuster until you have an attorney. But, why do so many attorneys advise their clients not to speak to an adjuster after an accident? What exactly does an adjuster do?

The Role of the insurance Adjuster

An insurance adjuster is employed by an insurance company and given the task of investigating the details of car accidents. Adjusters are assigned to cases as soon as one of the drivers involved in the accident notifies the insurance company of the collision. First, the insurance adjuster will reach out to both parties and ask questions to determine exactly what happened. The adjuster will likely want proof such as a police report or photos of the scene to back up the story of who caused the accident.

But, an insurance adjuster’s job is not over once they have heard more about what happened. If you choose to file a personal injury claim against the insured driver, the insurance adjuster will be your main point of contact with the company. The adjuster will ask you (or your attorney) to submit proof of any injuries that you claim you sustained in the accident. If your property was also damaged in the collision, you should provide proof for this as well.

Why does an insurance adjuster need all of this information? His role is gathering as much evidence about the accident as possible so he can place a value on the damages and begin negotiating a settlement with you.

The Dangers of Communicating With Insurance Adjusters

It’s important to remember that an insurance adjuster does not have your best interests in mind. After an accident, the adjuster will attempt to contact you about your injuries. Attorneys recommend that you avoid talking to an adjuster because anything you say can be taken out of context and used against you. If the adjuster asks, “how are you?” and you reply, “I’m fine, thank you,” the adjuster could argue during negotiations that you said you were fine and did not mention any injuries.

Adjusters aim to get you to settle for the lowest amount of money possible so they can protect their company’s bottom line. Don’t make the mistake of settling for less than your claim is worth. If an adjuster asks you to submit a recorded statement about the accident or sign any type of paperwork, do not do it until you have consulted with an attorney.

If you have been involved in a car accident, avoid communicating with the insurance adjuster and contact James Rush at Rush Injury Law instead. James Rush is an experienced attorney who knows all of the tricks that insurance adjusters can use to get you to settle. Let him handle your case so you recover the compensation you deserve. Call 415-897-4801 or fill out the online form on our website, www.rushinjurylaw.com to schedule a free consultation today.