You hear us talk a lot about insurance adjusters and how they handle your injury cases. However, you may not be completely aware of what an insurance adjuster actually does. as an accident attorney, we deal with insurance adjusters every single day. So we know not only how to deal with them, but where their loyalties lie. Below, our car accident attorney answers common questions our clients ask about insurance adjusters.
Accident Attorney | What Does an Insurance Adjuster Do?
An insurance adjuster conducts investigations into car accident claims that are covered by an insurance policy. These claims can include personal injury, property damage, car accidents, etc. in personal injury and property damage claims, the main role of an adjuster is to carry out detailed investigations into each claim. Insurance adjusters typically investigate in the following ways:
- Inspecting damage;
- Reviewing police reports;
- Speaking to and interviewing witnesses;
- Talking to property owners (if the case is premises liability or property damage).
Car Accident Attorney | Who Do Adjusters Work For?
We want to make this very clear: the insurance adjusters DO NOT work for you. They work for the insurance company. Contrary to popular belief, the insurance adjusters and the companies they work for are not on your side. Their goal is to make the insurance company money.
Insurance adjusters will work directly for the insurance company or they will be contracted out by the insurance company. as an accident attorney, we advise that you do not speak with the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim. We say this for your benefit, as the adjusters will do everything in their power to make sure that you receive the lowest settlement possible. or quite honestly, they may try to completely deny your claim. as a car accident attorney, we believe that it is in your best interest to let your attorney deal with them. This way you can focus all of your energy on healing from your injuries.
What Do Adjusters Actually Do?
The adjuster confirms that the damage that was caused is covered by the insurance policy of the at-fault party. They will then open up a claim file and conduct their investigation. It is the adjuster’s role to communicate back and forth with your accident attorney. an adjuster’s role encompasses the following duties:
- Informing the insurance company of the details of the accident (loss);
- Researching and assessing any damages;
- Determining liability;
- Investigating all aspects of the claim, including but not limited to physical damages/injuries, property damages, interviewing witnesses, etc.;
- Compiling a damage report;
- Communicate with the proper specialists and tradespeople in order to obtain an estimate of cost of damages and expenses/losses.
After the adjuster has completed their investigation, they will send your attorney their findings. Your car accident attorney will then begin the negotiation process. Insurance adjusters are notorious for making light of serious situations. as an accident attorney, we see and experience this all the time. the best advice we can give you is to contact a car accident attorney after your accident so that you are not rushed into accepting a settlement before you complete your treatment.
Some Advice from an Accident Attorney
We know that the time after your accident is not only stressful but emotional. Insurance adjusters are aware of this and will take advantage of you during this time. Further, they will either bombard you with phone calls saying that you must accept their lowball settlement offer. or they will completely ignore you in order to make you feel uncomfortable with your case. the best advice we can give you is to hire a car accident attorney to help with your case. Not only will we be able to get you the settlement you deserve, but you won’t have to deal with adjusters. You can focus your energy entirely on healing and getting your life back to normal.
If you have been injured in an accident, contact an accident attorney at Silverthorne Attorneys at 949-234-6034. Consultations with one of our attorneys are completely free of charge.
