After an accident and you file a claim, the insurance company will appoint an insurance adjuster to your claim who will be responsible for handling your case. This insurance adjuster will reach out to you.
Remember that insurance adjusters are in the business of reducing the amount the company has to pay out to policyholders. What you say to this expert needs to be carefully considered. When dealing with an insurance adjuster, keep these things in mind and contract an Ontario, CA personal injury lawyer.
Steps to Take When Contacted by an Insurance Adjuster
- Be courteous and composed.
The ideal course of action is to portray yourself to the adjuster as a cooperative and reasonable individual, even when you may still feel furious or stressed out days after the accident. They will have a negative impression of you if they find you aggressive or hard to work with.
- Take note of the information provided by the caller.
Find out who the insurance company is and how to contact the adjuster. Put things in writing so you may refer back to them if you have any questions or concerns in the future.
- Keep to the essentials.
Name, contact information, the time and place of the accident, and the make and model of the vehicle you were operating are the most fundamental pieces of information you can submit.
- Make it brief.
After a few simple questions, cut off the discussion or provide brief responses. You can mention that you are uncomfortable talking much on the phone or that you would instead save more in-depth conversations for a more suitable occasion.
- Make a note of the questions and answers.
Take notes on the adjuster’s questions and your responses after the call. The record does not need to be literal but should remind you of the details you supplied.
How to Ignore an Insurance Adjuster When They Contact You?
- Deny the request to record.
The insurance adjuster usually requests recording statements. However, lawyers often advice denying the request to give a recorded statement. Instead, you can provide the company a written statement.
- Provide only the most essential information.
Keep your account of the automobile crash brief. Refusing to answer a yes/no question on the cause of the accident is also an option.
- Keep your opinions, speculation, and lies to yourself.
Opinions about who was at fault, what caused the accident, or how much damage there might be should be left out.
- You should not sign a medical release.
You must sign a medical release to grant access to your medical records to your insurance company. If the adjuster asks you to sign a waiver, resist.
