The Top 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Insurance Adjuster

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When you are contacted by an insurance adjuster following an accident or after you’ve filed a claim for an injury, it can seem like the adjuster is trying to help you get money. However, insurance adjusters are not on your side. They are solely looking out for the insurance company’s interests -- namely, making sure that the insurance company has to pay out as little money to you as possible.  Below are the top 10 questions you should ask your insurance adjuster, especially since doing so may put the insurer on notice that you won’t be taken advantage of.

Read more: Can I Appeal An Insurance Claim Denial?

Won’t I Receive More Money If I Hire an Attorney?

Although an insurance adjuster may try to convince you that you’ll end up with less money in the end by having to pay an attorney, data shows that injured accident victims tend to receive far more money when represented by an attorney than those claimants who try to handle their case on their own. Insurance companies know that personal injury attorneys understand what your claim is truly worth and won’t be distracted by the tactics insurance companies try to employ.

How Do I Know If Your Settlement Offer Is Fair and Reasonable?

You can never take the insurance company’s word that their settlement offer is fair and reasonable. Remember that their overriding goal is to pay you as little money as possible. That is why it helps to get independent, knowledgeable advice from an experienced personal injury attorney regarding whether an insurance settlement offer will fairly and fully compensate you for all your losses.

Why Do You Need a Statement from Me?

Insurance companies will try to get you to provide a statement, so that they can cherry pick things you say to later use against you to either later deny your claim outright or offer you less money. Before you give any official statement to an insurance company, you should first consult with your attorney.

Read more: How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

Why Do You Need a Statement to Issue PIP Benefits?

New Jersey is a no-fault state, meaning that an insured motor vehicle accident victim usually must first look to their personal injury protection coverage for medical treatment and other out-of-pocket expenses. However, as a form of no-fault coverage, PIP benefits should be available to you even if you were at fault for the underlying accident.

Can I Get a Statement from the At-Fault Party?

Even if the other party’s insurance company asks you for a statement, they will never provide you with a statement from the at-fault party, even if the insurance company took one from them. You probably won’t get the at-fault party on record until you file a lawsuit and seek their deposition.

Why Do You Need Access to My Medical Records?

Insurance companies often try to get unfettered access to your entire medical history to find something they can point to as evidence of a pre-existing condition that caused your injuries, rather than the underlying accident, so that they can argue for minimizing the amount of money they pay to you. An attorney can help ensure that the insurance company only gets access, when necessary, to your medical records directly related to your treatment following the accident. 

Should I Wait to Finish Medical Treatment Before Settling My Claim?

Yes, although the insurance company will again pressure you to settle before you finish treatment. If you accept a settlement while still undergoing treatment and your injuries turn out to be far worse than you initially thought, you cannot go back to the insurance company for more money. 

Will You Compensate My Doctor to Author an Opinion Explaining Why a Certain Procedure or Certain Treatment Is Necessary?

No. Although the insurance company may hire its own doctor to author an opinion in support of the insurer’s efforts to refuse to cover treatment or a particular procedure, the insurance company almost certainly won’t pay for a doctor favorable to you to author an opinion in support of your claim. 

What Do I Do If You Won’t Pay for Medical Treatment through My PIP Coverage?

An insurance adjuster may try to convince you that once the insurance company has denied reimbursement and that’s the end of the matter. However, insurance policies usually have an administrative appeals process that you can (and often must) follow to contest a denial of benefits. You may also be able to file a claim in court to pursue coverage you believe you are entitled to.

What Is the At-Fault Party’s Policy Limit?

The other party’s insurance company will almost never tell you the amount of available insurance coverage under the at-fault party’s policy because it makes it harder for you to negotiate a settlement offer without knowing for sure whether the at-fault party has more available coverage.

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

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries 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 Paramus NJ Accident Attorney at The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. represent clients injured in Hackensack, Teaneck, Fort Lee, Fair Lawn, 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 Street, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662.

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.