When an individual is injured in any sort of accident in California that was caused by someone else’s negligence, they have the opportunity to seek compensation for the financial and psychological costs of their injury through the personal injury claims process.
When a third-party claim is filed against a liability insurance policy by someone who was harmed as a result of the insured’s negligence, the claim is generally assigned to an insurance claims adjuster. The claims adjuster’s role is to evaluate the claim and determine if the claimant is owed compensation from the policy as a result of the insured’s liability. Dealing with claims adjusters can be difficult, however, as many of them aren’t acting in your best interest. Setareh Law can help you navigate how to talk with insurance claims adjusters in California and answer any other questions you may have.
Tips for Talking With Insurance Claims Adjusters
Here are a few tips on how to effectively talk with claims adjusters in California:
Be Cooperative, But Limited, In the Information You Provide
It is important to understand that an insurance claims adjuster’s position is not to provide you with as much compensation as you request – or even need. Their responsibility is to protect their employer’s bottom line by keeping claims as low as possible. While it is never recommended that you ignore the calls of a claims adjuster, it is recommended that you keep the details of your accident and injury limited.
Do not feel pressured to answer all of the claims adjuster’s questions, or to guess what information the claims adjuster wants to hear. A response of “I don’t know” is acceptable, as are simple yes and no answers to most questions. When asked about your injuries, simply state that you are still assessing your injuries.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement
Just as you should not provide detailed answers, you should avoid giving a recorded statement. This is because one issue that frequently arises when a claimant agrees to give a recorded statement is that the claimant speaks about the accident before they are completely sure of the facts of the case. If it turns out that the facts are different than what the claimant said in the recorded statement, the claims adjuster can use the recorded information to portray the claimant as an unreliable witness.
Be Cautious About Early Settlement Offers
One common tactic often used by insurance claims adjusters is to make an early settlement offer before the claimant has had time for their condition to stabilize and a clearer picture of the expenses and quality-of-life impacts they have incurred because of the accident. Unfortunately, these settlement offers are generally far below the full value of the claim. If the claimant agrees to the offer, they will be barred from seeking any further legal action against the at-fault party or their insurer in the matter. Make sure you don’t accept any early settlement offers without first consulting with your lawyer.
Contact an Attorney to Manage Communication with the Claims Adjuster
The best tip for dealing with an insurance claims adjuster in California is to leave the talking to an experienced personal injury lawyer. Lawyers understand the types of tactics insurance companies often use when attempting to devalue a claim, and they also understand the legal obligations that insurance companies have both to the people they insure, as well as people who are injured as a result of their insured’s negligence.
A personal injury lawyer can provide several other services, such as establishing a claim value based on the severity of the injury and the availability of insurance resources. A lawyer can also negotiate with the insurance claims adjuster in order to facilitate a settlement that fairly compensates the claimant for their injury.
Let Setareh Law Handle the Insurance Claims Adjuster
If you’ve been injured in an accident that was caused by another party’s negligence, the experienced legal team from Setareh Law can manage communication with the insurance claims adjuster in order to ensure that they have the information they need to evaluate your claim, while also limiting their ability to pressure you into providing too many details or potentially hurting your claim. We can also provide guidance to help you understand your claim and how it is valued so that you can make important decisions about your case.
For more information about the personal injury claims process in California and the services Setareh Law can provide to assist you as you seek compensation, contact us for a free case evaluation by calling us at (310) 659-1826 or sending us a message through our online contact form. Our team also speaks Spanish to communicate effectively with as many clients as possible.