Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be stressful. If you’ve never had to deal with it, there are some procedures you aren’t familiar with. Speaking with an insurance claims adjuster is part of the ordinary course of events after a crash. Take a look at how you should handle the discussions.
Don’t Make Guesses
An adjuster is trained to gather information from the drivers to get a clear picture of the crash. However, as a driver who has been in an accident, you may not remember every detail. The adjuster will try to get you to guess or recall the answers to some of these questions to fill in the gaps in your account. Even if the adjuster is from your insurer, it is never a good idea to guess. Once you say something, the adjuster will take it as fact, and if you contradict it later, it will appear like you are hiding something. It is best just to tell the adjuster you don’t remember if that is the truth.
Don’t Admit to Fault
Remember that the insurance companies are businesses, and the last thing they want to do is pay out on claims. If you live in a tort or at-fault state, the adjusters will need to decide who caused the crash. That driver’s insurer will be responsible for paying the other driver’s damages. You may innocently apologize for the crash or for something you may have done or not done before it happened. An adjuster will take this as an admission of guilt, even if you are ultimately not the one responsible.
Don’t Give False Information
A recorded statement is something that can be entered into evidence at a trial. You are informed before you start speaking to the adjuster whether you are giving a recorded statement. You should never, in any conversation with an insurance representative, give false information. You may be nervous about the process and trying to protect yourself or someone else, but lying will land you in legal hot water.
Don’t Say You Are Fine
When an adjuster asks about how you feel, be honest. Tell them you are shaken, sore, or just not sure yet. If you tell an adjuster you feel fine, and then later discover you have an injury, the insurer will be less likely to pay the medical claim.
A car accident lawyer is someone who can help guide you through the claims process. Attorneys know how to handle adjusters and their sometimes tricky questions. Speak with a lawyer, like an auto accident lawyer in Trenton, NJ from Davis & Brusca, LLC, before an adjuster to allow yourself the opportunity to have the best representation during a claim.