What Is an Insurance Adjuster’s Role in Car Accident Case?
Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company and investigate the crash, gathering information about what happened and the injuries suffered. They also value the claim and determine how much their company will offer the claimant for the loss. There are several important factors to remember here:
- An insurance adjuster represents the insurance company, not you
- An insurance adjuster investigates the crash on the company’s behalf
- An insurance adjuster evaluates property damage, injuries, and other claimed losses
Because many types of insurance claims are possible in Florida car accidents, the adjuster could work for:
- Your own no-fault policy provider
- Your own collision policy provider
- The other driver’s property damage liability coverage provider
- The other driver’s injury liability coverage provider
Even when filing an insurance claim based on your own policy, always keep in mind that the adjuster is not on your side. They do not want to pay you what your claim is worth. Instead, they want to pay as little as possible to protect their company’s bottom line. You must be careful to avoid falling victim to tricks and tactics an insurance adjuster might use to reduce your compensation.
How to Deal with an Insurance Adjuster
Dealing with insurance adjusters can be difficult, and the time after an accident can be confusing and stressful. You may not know what to do or who to turn to. One thing you can expect is an insurance adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company calling to ask you questions about the accident, your injuries and possibly to offer you a settlement.
It is important to remember that the insurance companies are out to make money and are only interested in what is best for them, not you. You need to understand how these insurance adjusters work so you can protect your personal injury claim. Before speaking with anyone, it is best to contact a personal injury law firm in Fort Lauderdale first.
Tips for Dealing with Insurance Adjusters
- Put Everything in Writing – It is not uncommon to deal with several different adjusters when trying to reach a settlement, each of whom will offer you different settlements or tell you different information. This is a tactic the insurance company often uses to confuse you and get you to accept a low offer. By keeping written records of everything they have told you, they will later have to live up to their obligations or answer for their behavior in court.
- Think in Terms of Dollars – When dealing with an insurance adjuster who offers you a settlement, you may hear things like “We can only offer you $2,500, which would be enough for a nice vacation to Mexico.” This is because they want you to “spend” the money in your head and therefore take the first amount of money they offer. Remember that you are seeking compensation for your medical bills and property damage, not vacations or other fun items.
- Be Informed – Know what your rights are as an insurance consumer. Hold your ground and let information back you up. Read your insurance policy, do research on the insurance company in question and contact your state’s department of insurance if you have questions or believe an adjuster is acting in an unethical manner.
- Get Help – If you are confused or are unsure about what the insurance adjuster has told you, then it is time to contact a personal injury attorney who can deal with the insurance company on your behalf and let you get back to healing and repairing any property damage you may have.
How Car Accident Lawyer Can Handle All Communication With the Adjuster for You
If you hire a Florida accident attorney to represent you, they can handle all communication with the insurance adjuster in your case – protecting your rights and helping you seek and secure an appropriate settlement. The Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers at our firm understand how insurance adjusters work and what strategies they might use to get you to accept too little money for your claim, including:
- Making a quick settlement offer before you know the value of your case
- Making only lowball offers
- Telling you an offer is final
- Asking for a recorded statement
- Using your own words out of context to downplay your injuries
- Failing to move the claim forward at a reasonable pace
- Purposeful delays
- Unwarranted denials
While you have an obligation to cooperate with your own insurer to file a no-fault claim, you do not have the same obligation to the other driver’s insurance company. You can politely decline any recorded statements and refuse to give them anything more than basic information about the crash.
A better option to ensure that your fault-based claim goes smoothly is working with our team from the beginning. We can assess your options for suing the careless or reckless driver, prepare and file your case, and negotiate with the insurance adjuster while protecting your right to a fair payout.
How Do I Navigate the Insurance Claims Process After Car Accident?
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
there were 245,936 injuries in 386,180 Florida auto accidents in 2022 alone. (This statistic does not include property damage-only collisions or deadly accidents.) Of these, many victims recover compensation through a claim against their own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy.
Under FL Stat. 627.730, a key part of Florida’s no-fault auto insurance laws, all drivers must have at least $10,000 in PIP coverage. This minimum amount can help pay a portion of the medical bills and lost income for accident victims with relatively minor or moderate injuries. However, many victims need and deserve more money.
Some victims can sue the at-fault driver for their injuries and related expenses. They also have a right to pursue a property damage claim against the careless or reckless driver for the damage to their vehicle. These are the cases our team handles most frequently. We know how to determine if you qualify, navigate the claims process, and secure appropriate compensation for our clients.
How to Understand Financial Compensation Following a Car Accident
Negotiating a car accident settlement starts with understanding all the forms of financial compensation you are entitled to recover. Your recoverable economic and non-economic damages may include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future loss of income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Car damage, loss, or diminished value
- Physical impairment or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death damages, if applicabl
Every car accident case is different, and yours will have a unique monetary value based on your income loss, the severity of your injuries, and the accident’s effect on your quality of life.
Collect Evidence That Proves Your Right to Financial Recovery and its Value
The insurance company will rely on evidence to tell the story of your Fort Myers car accident. Your personal injury attorney will collect and submit evidence, including the police accident report and any observations and diagrams from the investigating officer.
Evidence can also include:
- Witness statements
- Accident reconstruction
- Photos and video footage
- Medical records
- First responder reports
Your motor vehicle accident lawyer will compile and organize your case file rather than asking you or your family to collect evidence during your recovery.
What are the Stages of the Car Accident Insurance Claims Process
Every insurance company will have unique policies and guidelines that govern filing a claim after an accident. You can generally expect the following steps:
- Reporting the accident
- Obtaining the police report
- Interviewing witnesses
- Inspecting your vehicle
- Reviewing your medical records
- Browsing social media
- Requesting an interview
The insurance company’s claims adjuster will then determine the value of your claim. Your lawyer will also assess your recoverable damages, submit a compensation request, and fight hard to optimize your financial settlement.
How Should You Manage an Insurance Adjuster After a Vehicle Accident?
Knowing how to deal with an insurance adjuster after a car accident can help you recover the money you need to pay for your medical bills, lost income, car repair or replacement, and other expenses related to the crash. In Florida, most drivers deal with their own insurance company during this process. However, some will pursue fault-based cases.
If you need to move forward with a case against the at-fault driver, the car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato are here for you. Call us at (954) 633-8270 today for a free consultation.
Call (954) 633-8270 for a Free Review of Your Car Accident Case
Speaking to insurance adjusters and completing and submitting all the forms required to file a personal injury claim can be overwhelming. You do not have to navigate the financial recovery process alone.
Get help dealing with insurance adjusters in a Fort Myers car accident claim by contacting our legal team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today. Our personal injury lawyers will walk you through the legal process and help you fight for fair compensation.
