
Every insurance company has an adjuster. This is the person they send to the scene to investigate matters and give them feedback on the amount paid for their losses. The adjuster’s main job is to go to the crime scene and review the damages compared to the victim’s information during the filing of their claims.
He then sends these reviews back to the company suggesting a certain price for the damages. The insurance company then relies on the adjusters’ reviews to compensate the victim for those damages.
Insurance claim adjusters must have great people skills as they deal with different varieties of people. Their goal is to find any flaws that can reduce the amount you can claim for the damages or medical expenses. To do this, there are some tactics which they could use. Below here are a few of them.
Insurance Claim Adjuster Secret Tactics
Video surveillance or stalking
Some insurance companies can even go to the extent of stalking the insured. They could be desperate enough to hire a private investigator to follow the insured with cameras. Their job is to get footage of them doing things they claim to be unable to (mostly due to the injuries they sustained.)
Social media
Insurance adjusters can even take advantage of the insured’s social media platforms. They can search through posts, friends or even do personality checks to disqualify the person of their claims.
Asking for a recorded statement
Although it seems reasonable for an insurance adjuster to ask for your side of the story by giving a recorded statement, there is always a catch to that. You might think that giving them your view on what happened can help prove that you are not at fault. Well, I’m here to tell you that the complete opposite is the case here.
The recorded statement can serve as a tool to devalue or even deny claims. For example, they may ask you about the severeness of any injuries sustained even when you have not met a doctor to see the injuries’ full extent.
If an insurance company should ask you to give a written or recorded statement, politely refuse unless your personal injury attorney instructs you.
Offering a quick settlement for you to release your claim
This is another scam used by insurance adjusters. They know that after suffering lots of losses, you may become vulnerable. They can then use this against you by offering you a little sum of money for you to withdraw your claim.
In most cases, they might decide to delay for a long time. They will decide to delay your process because most people will get tired and accept the little amount.
Deceiving you not to hire an attorney
Insurance companies may tell you that hiring an attorney is not needed. Well, if they’ve ever told you this, then know that it is a complete scam. They don’t want you to hire a lawyer because hiring one can totally ruin their plans. Some adjusters may even lie that all your compensation will go to the attorney. The only goal they’re after is for you to receive a minimum payout, and it is only your attorney that will tell you that.
Contending your medical report
Although the adjuster may not possess any degree in medicine, they might actually dispute the physician’s tests and examinations. They may even go ahead to deem some tests unnecessary, thereby questioning the work of your physician. It doesn’t even matter to them that a qualified and licensed physician recommended the procedure.
How To Talk To Insurance Claims Adjusters – What To Say
It is the work of an insurance adjuster to reduce the value of your claim. There are many ways for them to do this. One of these ways is by identifying flaws in your statements. Here are a few things you should never do when speaking to an adjuster.
1. Giving irrelevant details about yourself
There is no need to write them a book summary of your everyday life. Instead, just a few necessary details about yourself are required.
2. Discussing the details of your job or workplace
Details on the type of job you have, your salary, and your income are irrelevant to filing a case. Giving all these details to the adjuster can actually him get relevant information to devalue your claim.
3. Answering any questions on family matters
Questions partaking in your family are irrelevant and should not be answered.
4. Agreeing to everything the adjuster says
Always keep in mind that the adjusters are employed to discredit your claims. Therefore, agreeing to every word that comes out of their mouth implies that you do not want your claim to be successful.
They look for ways to get you to say things you will later regret. So please pay close attention to their questions before answering, or you might end falling head-first into their trap.
5. Accepting initial settlement offers
Most insurance companies might decide to speed up the process by offering only a small amount of money for you to withdraw your claim. However, this is just a scam as the money they will offer you is far lesser than what you can get by waiting until the end of the process.
6. Agreeing to give recorded statements
This is a common trap used by insurance companies to deny claims. They may ask you to give recorded statements on the accident. This may seem like a caring gesture, but in reality, it is actually a fraud. Those statements given are the exact tools that they will use to devalue a claim.
3 Tips To Consider When Speaking To An Insurance Adjuster
1. Remember that they are not on your side
An insurance adjuster may seem caring or even concerned about your condition, but the one thing to remember is that they only see you as an opportunity to get a raise. If they successfully make you withdraw a claim, they will get a bonus or even a promotion. So the best thing is to know that even though they may seem compassionate, their ultimate goal is to get you to withdraw your claim.
2. Be general when describing the details of the accident
Too many unnecessary details can be the one thing that will prevent you from getting that cash. When talking about the accident, make it simple. The only required information should be;
- Location or spot where the accident took place
- Date and time the accident occurred
- Type of accident
- As simple as that.
3. Look before you leap
A common method used by adjusters is to ask irrelevant questions to get information that can discredit your claim. When asked these types of questions, you need to recognize them as just another of their traps.
Car insurance operates or makes money by charging their customer’s monthly premiums and advertisement of their services. However, so many claim adjusters are devoted to helping all the parties involved, while other claim adjusters avoid paying the settlement to victims.
Trying to make a profit off people isn’t personal but business, and that’s why you need to know the insurance claim adjuster’s secret tactics before you go on to deal with them.
Some Other Insurance Claim Adjuster Secret Tactics You Need To Consider
However, these settlements can eventually become personal for you since the compensation you receive will affect your financial security, daily life, and physical health.
There are secret tactics insurance claim adjusters might use, and they implore these tactics to avoid paying victims of accidents their due compensation for damages. Furthermore, consulting the assistance of an attorney might help from falling from any of these tricks.
You Don’t Necessarily Need To Give A Recorded Statement.
After a car accident has happened, the insurance company representative would give you a call and request a statement. In some cases, the insurance claim adjusters will tell you that you would need to provide a statement, and not being able to provide a statement might not help your case.
This isn’t true regardless, and that is why you mustn’t provide any statement without having legal consultation first. These insurance claim adjusters might use this statement as a medium to ask you tricky questions, which might cause you to say something that might be used against you later before settling.
A question as simple as “how are you” from an insurance claim adjuster, and you respond with “fine” might cause the insurance claim adjuster to claim that your injuries and damages are not as severe as you claim they are; therefore, you are okay.
Your responses should be kept at the lowest point while speaking with an insurance claim adjuster, so what you are meant to provide them with is contact information and basic identifying information.
Medical Reports Can Also Be Used Against You
To reduce your claims or justify their claims, insurance claims adjusters are capable of digging deep into your past so they would find something that they can use against you in paying you a settlement for damages or injuries. They can request old medical reports, and they would search through them carefully, hoping to find something that they might use against you in reducing their payout.
With that being said, you already know that your medical record isn’t what you should release to any claim adjuster but what you should do is have your legal team go through all of your medical records and any records relevant to the accident.
Insurance Companies Take Their Time
You are likely to feel overwhelmed if you have just been involved in a car accident, which could result from vehicle repair costs and medical bills piling up at the same time. In addition, you cannot go back to work because of your injuries, making it difficult for you to meet up with your daily expenses. At this point, car insurance claim adjusters are aware that you are under so much pressure, so they tend to use your fear and uncertainty to their own benefit.
They are very aware that you need some relief, so they wait till you are almost exhausted and have no choice but to accept whatever it is they have to give to you. Most victims do not know the other options they have to help them deal with expenses before settlement.
You do not need to accept an offer that is low in a hurry, and that is why you need to consult a legal team that would help you make the right decision.
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