What Insurance Adjusters May Ask After a Car Accident

Insurance adjusters are people who work for the insurance company and make decisions on how much to pay after an accident occurs. No matter how nice they seem to you or what they promise you, they are not there to support you in this process, and you must know how to interact with them. What can insurance adjusters ask after a car accident?

They have the right to gather facts, and insurance adjusters need to have accurate information to ensure claims happen. The key here is that there are limitations on what they can say and do. If you are facing the need to file a claim, we encourage you to work with us throughout that process instead of having to deal with the adjuster on your own.

At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC, we help our clients to talk to and interact with insurance adjusters. This helps to protect you throughout this process. If you are facing questions, set up a free consultation with a Memphis car accident lawyer now so that we can guide you.

What to Expect When Speaking to Insurance Adjusters

You can speak to an insurance adjuster after a car accident, though you also can allow your personal injury attorney to do this for you. In all cases, this is an opportunity to share information with them about what occurred. When speaking to them, never admit guilt and only share specific answers to the questions they ask.

One key thing to remember is that insurance adjusters may ask things they do not need to know. They may also insinuate situations that may not be accurate to justify paying out less. You do not want to fall victim to that.

The following are some examples of the questions insurance adjusters often ask. We encourage you to allow our car accident attorneys to help you through these types of questions. You do not have to do this on your own.

How Did the Accident Happen?

The insurance adjuster will ask you to explain what occurred, breaking down what happened that led up to the accident. When possible, let your attorney handle this part of the process since it can be one of the more challenging areas for you to explain. You do not want your answer to be manipulated in any way.

Who Is at Fault in the Case?

Though the police report may provide some information about this, the insurance adjuster may try to determine if they can shift the blame to you in any way. If you admit fault or a share in the fault, that puts you at risk. Here are some ways this can happen:

• You apologize for the incident or for filing the claim.
• You say, “I did not see them.”
• You say, “I could have avoided them.”

How Much Damage Is There to the Car?

The insurance adjuster does not need to ask you this question since there will be clear evidence of it from the mechanic. They do so because they want to seek out any information on what could have been wrong with the car before the accident. Any drop in value means they pay less.

What Are Your Injuries?

Insurance companies typically need to understand the type of injuries you have, the impact those injuries are going to have on your life in the coming months and years, as well as if you reached the maximum level of improvement expected. All of this factors into what they will pay out. However, they should not be telling you where to get care or that you do or do not need a specific type of treatment.

When Do You Plan to Go Back to Work?

This is often a loaded question and one that the insurance company is hoping you will open up about. You may not know this, and ultimately, it depends on how you heal and your doctor’s recommendation. For that reason, do not provide any guesses but simply state, “My doctor has not released me to do so.”

What Were You Doing at the Time of the Accident?

This is another loaded question that often carries with it the expectation that you will convey some level of fault. If you state, “I was talking to my friend on speaker phone,” that indicates you were distracted. Instead, answer this question honestly but without detail, stating, “I was driving and focused on the road.”

What Type of Health Problems Have You Had in the Past?

A tactic often used to shift some blame, our car accident attorneys often encourage you not to speak about your previous health conditions or “aches and pains.” Instead, simply talk about the injuries you currently have from the accident. They do not need your full medical history, and if they do, they can pursue it in a court of law.

Why Are You Taking So Long to File a Claim?

Insurance companies may pressure you into filing your claim right away and even put a deadline on when you can do so. This is another area to leave in the hands of your car accident attorney. That helps to alleviate the pressure they are trying to put on you throughout this process.

Talk to Our Car Accident Attorneys Before You Answer Any Questions

What insurance adjusters may ask after a car accident is always specific to their job of trying to reduce the compensation they pay you. Let us fight against that type of abuse. When you work with our team, you do not have to worry about those risks.

Set up a consultation with our attorneys today. Let us help you to prepare for any conversation you have to have. Most often, we can handle these conversations for you, reducing the risk you have in making a statement that puts your case at risk.

Call Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC now to learn how we can help you. There is no cost for a consultation. You do not pay us if we do not get you the compensation you are owed.