Keep the Adjuster Informed About the Seriousness of Your Injuries

To settle your accident claim for a fair amount of money, you’ll want to keep this fifth secret in mind when working with the claims adjuster to settle your case: keep the adjuster informed about the seriousness of your injuries.

We touched upon this secret when we discussed settling your car accident injury claim when discussing setting a high reserve account. Having a high reserve account is important for planning purposes. If the reserve account is small and you ask for a much higher amount, you’re going to run into problems. The insurance adjuster is going to look bad to his or her manager. You may think that this isn’t your problem, but it becomes your problem when the reserve account has insufficient funds to pay for your claim. You’ll be pressured into accepting a lower offer.

A lower offer is not going to be beneficial to you when you don’t have enough money to pay your medical bills. The more money you can get, the better. That’s why you need to keep in constant contact with the insurance company. They don’t want any surprises.

If your medical condition worsens or changes in any way, it’s a good idea to tell the claims adjuster so they can evaluate the reserve and increase it if necessary. If they can increase it, the insurer will have enough money to pay your claim. If you keep quiet, there may not be enough money to pay your claim, and you’ll be out of luck.

Talking to the Insurance Adjuster

Talking to the insurance company can be a Catch-22. While you want to inform them of any changes to your medical condition, talking too much can be detrimental. What you say can be used against you, so if you say the wrong thing, you could ruin your case. You probably don’t want to go into too much detail because it could bring up additional questions about your condition. If you answer those in a way that doesn’t satisfy the insurance company, they will find ways to deny your claim or give you a lowball offer.

Many people incorrectly assume that the insurance adjuster is their friend. Nothing could be further from the truth. Insurance companies are not looking out for your best interests. Even though you may be dealing with your insurance company and you pay hefty premiums on time, insurance companies only care about their bottom line. When they have to pay you a settlement, your claim affects their bottom line. Therefore, be careful when confiding in them, and definitely do not ask them for advice.

Hiring a Lawyer to Work with the Adjuster

Your best bet is to hire a lawyer who will talk to the insurance company on your behalf. Lawyers know how to deal with insurance companies. They know what to say and what not to say to avoid anything that can make you seem guilty.

Read about the other secrets:

1. Conduct a complete investigation.
2. Get photographs of all important elements in your case.
3. Don’t release your medical records to the other party’s insurance company.
4. Get the insurance company to set up a high reserve account.
5. Keep the adjuster informed about the seriousness of your injuries.
6. Don’t let the insurance adjuster pressure you into settling your case.
7. Keep a day-by-day diary of your injuries.
8. Know all your damages.
9. Keep all bills and receipts related to your accident.
10. Know all your injuries.
11. Know your sources for insurance coverage.
12. Stay under your doctor’s care until your doctor releases you.
13. File your lawsuit right away.
14. Ask a qualified trial lawyer to evaluate your case.
15. If you decide to hire a lawyer, choose a trial attorney who isn’t afraid to go to court.