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(253) 272-5226It’s easy to make a mistake when speaking with an insurance adjuster after a crash. Many injured people aren’t familiar with the claims process and are caught off guard when an adjuster calls asking for a statement. However, the adjuster’s job is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line – not to help you get maximum compensation.
In this post, we’ll cover some of the most common mistakes people make during phone calls with insurance adjusters. (Plus, we’ll let you know what to do instead.)
Just because an adjuster sounds kind or expresses concern about your injuries doesn’t mean they’re on your side. As people, we naturally trust those who show empathy. But this is a situation where it’s important to stay cautious.
Remember: an insurance adjuster works for the insurance company. Their job is to reduce how much the company pays out on claims. Once you understand that, it becomes easier to recognize why certain questions are asked and how your answers may be used.
What to do instead:
Approach all interactions with the insurance company carefully. Be polite but avoid being overly friendly or casual.
Even if you didn’t cause the crash, it’s surprisingly easy to say something that sounds like an admission of fault.
For example:
Statements like these can be used to argue that you were partly responsible for the accident or your injuries. If an adjuster can shift even a small amount of blame onto you, they may try to reduce or deny your claim.
What to do instead:
Avoid saying “I’m sorry” when discussing the accident. Don’t guess, speculate, or volunteer extra details. Stick to basic facts, such as where the crash happened or whether the other driver received a citation.
One of the first questions an adjuster often asks is how you’re feeling. Many people respond automatically with “I’m fine” or “It could’ve been worse.” Unfortunately, these comments can be used to downplay the seriousness of your injuries later.
In many cases, the full impact of an injury isn’t clear right away. Pain, stiffness, and other symptoms can appear days or even weeks after a crash. Adjusters know this, but they may still try to get early statements on record that suggest you weren’t badly hurt.
What to do instead:
Let the adjuster know that you’re seeking medical care and that more information will be available after treatment. It’s also okay to say that you’re not ready to discuss details about your injuries or recovery yet.
When explaining what happened, it’s easy to ramble, guess, or talk through details you’re unsure about. An insurance adjuster may listen quietly and let you talk, even if what you’re saying could hurt your claim.
Keep in mind that anything you say can be used against you. Even comments that seem harmless can be taken out of context later. The same goes for social media posts about your accident or recovery, which we’ve seen cause problems for injured people.
What to do instead:
Keep your answers short and focused. It’s okay to pause or leave silence in the conversation. You don’t need to fill it. Being overly chatty can sometimes give the impression that you’re not seriously injured, even if that’s not true.
Many people don’t realize that they’re not required to give a recorded statement. Adjusters may make it sound like a normal or necessary step, but you’re allowed to say no.
Recorded statements are often used to lock you into specific wording before you fully understand your injuries or your legal options.
What to do instead:
Politely decline the recorded statement and let the adjuster know you’d like to speak with an injury lawyer first. Talking with a lawyer is free, and if we’re able to help, we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. A lawyer can also handle communication with the insurance company and help you avoid the common mistakes covered in this post.
If this post made you curious about how insurance companies really operate after a car accident, we can help. One of our Ladenburg Law attorneys, Erik Ladenburg, has written an eBook called What Car Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know that explains the process in plain language. It’s free to download. Just fill out the short form to get your copy.