You do not need to contact an adjuster right away. You can request to speak with them at a later time, when it is more convenient for you or after you have had the opportunity to meet with an attorney. If the caller is from your insurance company, you may be asked to provide some information so that they can begin processing your claim or pay or authorize your charges, such as hospital bills or a rental car. Before answering questions or providing a statement, speak with an attorney or your own insurer if the caller is from one of the other party’s insurance providers. Allowing an adjuster to pressure you into having a talk before you are ready, at a difficult moment for you, or while you are under the influence of drugs is not a good idea. Above everything, be courteous and composed. Tell the adjuster you’ll submit a description of your memories and injuries when you’ve had more time to do a thorough investigation and talk with an attorney.
Why would an insurance investigator call me?
When dealing with accident victims, insurance adjusters strive to maintain a calm demeanor while pinching pennies to save the insurance company money. That’s the bottom line for them. When they can’t persuade a victim to accept a low-ball settlement offer, they invent grounds to dismiss the claim entirely.
When it comes to lowballing, adjusters are well aware that most people are unable to cover the costs of a car accident on their own, and the insurance industry thrives on this desperation. They know you’re in desperate need of cash, and they’re trying to persuade you to accept a low settlement offer as soon as possible. You’ve “accepted” a settlement when you sign on the dotted line, and you can’t ask for extra money later. This usually means they’ll phone you soon after a collision, before you’ve learned the full extent of your injuries, to persuade you to take a settlement that simply covers your emergency room expense.
They may continue to phone you even if you tell them you need to speak with a lawyer or are still in treatment. They will almost always want you to give a recorded statement. They may claim they need to corroborate the specifics of your accident, but their real goal is to record you saying anything contradictory.
Let’s imagine you told the insurance adjuster that you had merely sustained a concussion in your first statement. Then you mention back problems a few weeks later. The insurance adjuster may argue that the back discomfort was not caused by the collision because you did not mention it at the time. They can even try to prevent you from receiving compensation for your back injury.
Insurance adjusters may also inquire about your behavior during the accident in order to elicit an admission of fault, or for further information about your medical records in order to determine whether you have a preexisting condition. At the end of the day, their goal is to persuade you to accept a low-ball settlement or to create a case to have your claim dismissed.
Remain Calm and Polite
You may still feel furious over the accident, especially if it was caused by someone else. Getting furious at the claims adjuster, on the other hand, will not help you achieve a fair personal injury compensation. When chatting with an insurance claims adjuster, remain cool and polite, as this will assist them process your claim more quickly and convince them that your tale is true.
Identify the Person You Are Speaking With
Get the name, phone number, and business address of the individual you’re speaking with before you discuss anything with an insurance claims adjuster. Check to see which insurance company they represent, as well as the name or business of the insured they are representing.
Give Limited Personal Information
The insurance company simply needs a few pieces of personal information from you, such as your full name, address, and phone number. Please feel free to tell them where you work and what you do. You do not, however, need to provide any additional information about your daily activities, employment schedule, or income.
Give No Details of the Accident
Insurance adjusters may want you to give a statement regarding what happened in the accident. You are not required to provide any information about the incident beyond the most basic circumstances, such as when it occurred, where it occurred, the vehicles involved, and the identities of other drivers and witnesses. You can tell the insurance claims adjuster that you’re conducting your own investigation into the accident and that you’ll go over all of the details later.
Give No Details of Your Injuries
The adjuster for your insurance company will want to know about your injuries, but don’t go into too much detail. You may not be aware of the entire degree of your injuries at this stage, or you may leave facts out while speaking with the adjuster. Leave it at that. Inform the adjuster that you are currently receiving medical care.
Resist Initial Settlement Offers
Your claim may be given an early settlement. While it may be tempting to accept an early offer, keep in mind that initial settlements are sometimes far less than what you deserve for your claim. Accept no offer until you’ve determined the full extent of your losses, and then only an offer that covers these costs.
Refuse to Give Recorded Statements
An insurance claims adjuster may tell you about the accident or your injuries based on a recorded statement. You are not required to do so, and you should make it clear that you do not consent to recorded statements.
What should you not say to an insurance adjuster?
Never apologize or admit any form of wrongdoing. Remember that a claims adjuster is searching for ways to decrease an insurance company’s liability, and any acknowledgment of fault might jeopardize a claim.
Do not declare you are OK or better than you were. This is especially crucial to remember when responding to the customary first question, “How are you?” Make no reference to your current state of health.
Do not make assumptions about any injuries you believe you may have experienced. Your comment could cause complications if your true diagnosis is more serious than your self-diagnosis.
Any offer to make a recorded statement should likewise be declined. During their initial calls, insurance adjusters will frequently try to get victims to give recorded testimonies, claiming that the recording is for the victim’s own safety. Don’t be duped. Conversations that are taped can be used against you in court.
What happens if you lie to your car insurance?
If you lie to your insurance company, you could be denied coverage, have your rates raised, or face fines, community service, or even prison time.
It makes no difference whether you misled on purpose or by accident to your insurance company; insurers can still refuse coverage and pursue other fines.
Making a false vehicle insurance claim is considered hard fraud and is a felony, whereas misrepresenting personal information is called soft fraud.
What kind of questions do insurance investigators ask?
These interviews are essentially “scripted,” and the questions are similar to those you’d find in any initial “interview.”
1. Would you mind telling me your entire name?
2. Are you aware that this interview is being taped?
3. Have you given your permission for it to be recorded?
4. May I share the information with another adjuster if necessary?
5. What is your contact information, including your address and phone number?
6. What is your birth date?
7. What year, make, and model of car were you driving at the time?
8. Are you the vehicle’s registered owner?
9. Did you use the car for any commercial or government purposes?
10. Did you have any youngsters or passengers in your vehicle?
11. When did your accident happen?
13. What was the total number of vehicles involved?
14. On which street did this occur?
15. Did the weather have a role in the collision?
16. Was there mild, moderate, or heavy traffic?
18. What kind of damage did your car sustain?
19. Do you know what kind of damage the other vehicles sustained?
20. Was there any kind of evasive maneuver that could have been used to avoid the accident?
21. Were you under the influence of drugs or alcohol when you made this decision?
22. Did you use any technological gadgets, such as a cell phone?
23. Was there anything in the way of your vision?
24. Do you have any idea how fast the other group was moving?
25. Do you know how fast you can go on that road?
27. Did you have your seatbelt on?
29. Did the cops arrive on the scene?
30. Was a report prepared?
31. Do you have a copy of the report?
32. Did you get a ticket or a citation?
33. Were the automobiles relocated prior to the arrival of the cops?
34. Did the cops take the drivers’ statements?
35. Were there any eyewitnesses to the collision?
36. Do you have the contact information for the witnesses?
37. Were any street signs, poles, or other property damaged?
38. Did you sustain any injuries as a result of the accident?
39. What were the nature of your injuries?
40. Were you flung forward, backward, or sideways at the time of impact?
41. Did you make any touch with the car with any part of your body?
42. Did you experience any ringing in your ears or a popping sensation in your jaw?
43. Were there any deep cuts or lacerations on your body?
44. Did any emergency treatment take place on the scene?
45. Did you have to go to the hospital?
46. Where did you go to the hospital?
47. Were you taken to the hospital by ambulance?
48. How have you been treated since the accident?
49. Do you know your doctor’s name?
50. What kind of treatment are you now undergoing?
51. Do you take any prescription drugs?
52. How would you evaluate your pain on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst and one being the least?
53. Have you had any previous injuries that may have reappeared as a result of the accident?
54. Do you know how much your medical costs have cost you thus far?
55. How much time were you out of the office?
57. How do you see yourself fitting in there?
58. Does your position have any physical requirements?
59. Who is your immediate supervisor’s name?
60. Do you have your supervisor’s phone number?
61. Do you get paid on an hourly or salary basis?
62. How many hours each week do you work?
64. Do you receive any bonuses or commissions?
65. Have you been there for a long time?
66. What kind of medical coverage do you have?
67. Can you tell me if any of the other passengers in the other vehicle were hurt?
68. Is there anything else you’d like to say regarding the accident that we haven’t covered that we should know about?
69. Have you answered all of the questions correctly?
70. To the best of your knowledge, is this recording true and correct?
71. Have you given your permission and knowledge for this recording to be made?
72. Could you kindly repeat your name?
What can insurance investigators do?
Insurance investigators investigate claims where the firm suspects fraud or criminal conduct, such as arson, staged accidents, or unneeded medical treatment. The degree of insurance fraud charges vary, ranging from exaggerated claims of automobile damage to complex fraud rings. Surveillance is a common task for investigators. For example, in the instance of a bogus workers’ compensation claim, an investigator may observe the claimant surreptitiously to see if he or she does anything suspicious based on the injuries claimed.
How long does an insurance company have to investigate a claim?
The insurance company has roughly 30 days to investigate your claim in most cases. The statutes of limitations in your state will also impact how long you have to file and settle a lawsuit.
What does a special investigator do for an insurance company?
An insurance investigator inspects and investigates an insurance claim to guarantee that no fraud has occurred. In order to have a better picture of the case and determine whether the claim is valid, they gather information from the insurance adjuster, law enforcement, claimant, and witnesses.
Do insurance companies talk to each other?
The answer was provided by While car insurance firms do not communicate directly with one another, they do share data. A database called the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange gives all vehicle insurance providers access to your claims history (CLUE). Other similar statistics will be used to determine your risk.