Dealing With and Outsmarting Auto Insurance Adjusters

Statements of the other party can be powerful evidence. If you say something to the insurance adjuster, they may use it against you later if the case goes to court. And of course, they might try to twist your words or embellish what you meant. The insurance adjuster doesn’t work for you. They work for the insurance company. Be careful what you say.

Just like a diamond, insurance settlements are forever. Once you sign onto a settlement, even if you have additional losses later, you can’t go back and get more compensation. Don’t miss out on future medical needs or long-term lost income by signing a settlement agreement too soon. An experienced legal advocate can help you thoroughly evaluate your damages.

RELATED: What to Do With Your Personal Injury Settlement

One way to outsmart the insurance company is to keep all of your records in one place. Whether the insurance adjuster tries to overwhelm you or underwhelm you with paperwork, having it all in one place to reference is critical. Use a designated folder to keep paper documents in, and be sure to save copies of all email correspondence.

During the claims adjustment process, you’re likely to receive a document called a reservation of rights letter. This is a document that says that the insurance company is willing to discuss the claim, but they’re not admitting liability. Take a deep breath when you receive this letter, knowing what it is and what it means.

Insurance claims are won and lost based on evidence. Keep records of your medical bills, your out-of-pocket losses and your lost wages. The more proof you have of your losses, the more likely you are to outsmart the insurance company’s attempt to deny or lowball your claim.

The insurance company will probably try to steer you to the maintenance or body shop that they prefer. But don’t be fooled. As long as they charge reasonable rates, you have the right to choose what body shop to use for repairs. You don’t have to use the body shop that the insurance company recommends, even if they try to imply that you must.

When you have repairs done after an auto accident, you might use original manufactured parts or after-market parts. Original equipment manufactured (OEM) parts are the same as the parts that are in your original vehicle. After-market parts are not the same. In some cases, after-market parts are good enough. Other times, they do not return your vehicle to its original value. Understand the difference, and research what’s appropriate for your case.

In many circumstances, you have the right to get a rental car during repairs. The insurance company may not volunteer this information. Check whether a rental car is covered under the policy so that you can get where you need to go while you wait for repairs on your vehicle.

Remember, an insurance claim is a negotiation. The parties agree on an amount to resolve the case. Outsmarting the insurance adjuster means knowing what your claim is worth and convincing the insurance company to pay you the fair value. Good negotiation requires arguments, evidence and tenacity. A personal injury attorney has experience negotiating with the insurance company and can speak on your behalf to reach a fair settlement.