How to Avoid Being Tricked by an Insurance Adjuster

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Unfortunately, too many injured accident victims realize all too late that they have been tricked by the insurance company into accepting a settlement that pays far less than what their case should be worth. When you are pursuing an insurance claim after being hurt in an accident, here’s what you can do to avoid being tricked by adjusters. 

Insurance Companies Are Not on Your Side

First, you need to remember that the insurance company is not on your side, even if you are filing a claim with your own insurer. The insurance company’s primary goal is to avoid paying you money or to pay you as little money as possible. That means your interests are adverse to the insurance company’s interests. Adjusters may try to act like your friend or that they are genuinely interested in helping you. While some adjusters may have some compassion for what you are going through, they are focused on working for their employer’s interests.

Don’t Accept a Quick Settlement

Insurance companies may try to pressure you into a quick settlement after an accident. They might tell you that they can provide you with money right now to help with medical bills or lost income, which can be incredibly persuasive if you are already feeling financial pressure soon after an accident. But when you accept a settlement with the insurance company, you cannot go back for more compensation if you later find you’ve suffered other injuries or incurred additional expenses. It is important to get a full understanding of your injuries, your expected prognosis, and the course of medical recovery you will need so that you know what amount of money will provide you with full compensation for all the losses you have incurred and will incur in the future. 

Avoid Recorded or Written Statements

Insurance companies, like the police, will try to use anything you say to them against you. Adjusters are trained to ask questions to claimants that are designed to get them to say things that the insurance company can use to either pin blame for the accident on the claimant or minimize the scope of their injuries and losses. If an adjuster asks you to provide a recorded or written statement, you should decline and contact an attorney immediately. You should also have your attorney review any documents that the insurance company wants you to sign. 

Remember Everything Is on the Record

Also, don’t be tricked by an adjuster trying to convince you that any part of a conversation you have with them is “off the record.” When you are talking to any representative from the insurance company, everything is on the record. Adjusters may try to engage in a casual conversation with you to get you to relax your guard so that you provide more information than you intended to or say something the insurance company can later use to undercut your claim. 

Remain Calm

Finally, you should always remember to remain calm when dealing with the insurance company. Another tactic that adjusters sometimes use is getting you frustrated so that you may inadvertently blurt out something against your interests. Even if the adjuster isn’t intentionally trying to make you angry, taking a confrontational tone with the adjuster will only end up making them less likely to want to provide you with the compensation you are asking for. 

Contact a Rochelle Park Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to an accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at The Epstein Law Firm represent clients injured because of accidents in Jersey City, Union City, Bayonne, Hoboken, and throughout New Jersey. Call 201-231-7847 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 340 West Passaic St., Rochelle Park, NJ 07762.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.