What Questions To Expect From an Insurance Adjuster
You will need to file a claim with your insurance company immediately following a car accident. Once this has been done, you will be contacted by an insurance adjuster. Insurance adjusters from your own insurance company and the company of others involved in the accident will need to speak to all the drivers involved. It is good to know what types of questions these professionals may want to ask you ahead of time. This can help you better prepare for these conversations and ensure you are providing helpful information.
Why Is an Adjuster Calling Me?
You might be wondering why an insurance adjuster would call you in the first place. This is an essential post-accident phone conversation that you cannot avoid. The insurance adjuster will call you for information during claim processing. The insurance company will first need to know if the accident happened. There are many instances of insurance fraud in which claims are made for accidents that never even happened. Once they have determined that you were in an accident, they will need to decide how much is a fair amount to settle for.
Is the Adjuster Trying To Trick Me?
An insurance adjuster is not trying to trick you. They are just trying to do their job. However, you should know that an insurance company will always attempt to settle for the lowest amount possible. This is not always in your best interest. An adjuster is trained to look and listen for details that could possibly lower the amount of money that they owe you. This is why it is essential that you choose your words carefully during this conversation. Here are a few questions they may ask.
What Questions Will They Ask?
Be prepared to answer these and other questions when you receive a call from an insurance adjuster. Be sure to answer questions honestly, but do not provide more information than is necessary.
- Where did the accident happen?
- When did the accident happen?
- How many cars were involved?
- Did you file a police report?
- What factors contributed to the accident?
- Were you injured?
- Were other people injured?
- Was the accident your fault?
Let’s look more closely at that last question. When an insurance adjuster attempts to discuss fault with you, it is an attempt to discredit your insurance claim. If you were at fault, legally, the insurance company might not be obligated to pay the same amount of money on your claim. You should not discuss fault with an insurance company until you have talked with a car accident lawyer.
Another critical question to be aware of is any questions regarding injuries. If you are asked about your injuries, you should answer very carefully. Do not say you are fine if you really are not. If you are experiencing pain and residual issues from your injuries, you should share this in detail. Sometimes we automatically tell people we are fine, but this could lead the adjuster to believe that your injuries are not serious.
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