3 FAQs About Handling the Insurance Adjuster

If you were hurt through no fault of your own and you intend to take action, chances are you won’t actually correspond with the liable party during the claims process. Instead, you’ll likely go through an insurance adjuster.

While insurance adjusters can be incredibly helpful and are often sympathetic to a claimant’s circumstances, their goal is to protect the carrier’s bottom line. That means offering as little compensation as possible, and only when they cannot deny the claim outright.

In other words, you can’t count on the insurance adjuster to protect your best interests. As such, you’re going to have to approach every interaction with them strategically.

Let’s take a look at the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about doing just that so you can avoid jeopardizing your claim inadvertently:

1. Should I Provide a Recorded Statement?

The insurance adjuster will inevitably ask for a statement once they’ve reviewed the facts of the case. They may even inform you that they won’t be able to process your claim if you don’t provide one.

No matter how convincing they are, it’s wise to avoid giving any kind of recorded statement without first consulting an attorney. Speaking on the accident in which you were hurt or the injuries you sustained before conducting a thorough investigation could prove disastrous. If there end up being any discrepancies between what you state and what actually happened, the insurance adjuster will have reason to challenge your credibility and, subsequently, the basis for your entire claim.

2. Do I Need to Document My Interactions with the Insurance Adjuster?

To give your claim the best chance of yielding a payout, preserve all correspondence with the insurer. This includes voicemails, emails, text messages, and letters. As for actual conversations, get in the habit of recording them. When that’s not an option, write down everything that was discussed as soon as possible after the fact, making sure to note all the most important talking points.

Because Minnesota is a one-party consent state, you do not have to inform the insurance adjuster that you’re recording a conversation as long as you’re actively participating in it. Chances are they’re recording all interactions, too, though, so they may inform you of their own doing.

3. Do I Have to Talk to the Insurance Adjuster at All?

You can bypass all correspondence with the insurance adjuster entirely by hiring a reputable personal injury lawyer. As soon as you enlist help, simply refer the opposing party to your legal team. They will handle all the logistics of your claim so you can focus on more important matters, like making a full recovery.

Discuss Your Case with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Minneapolis

If you think you have grounds for a personal injury claim, turn to Bradshaw & Bryant to determine how best to proceed. We take pride in counseling those who have been wronged by others. To schedule a free case review with a personal injury attorney in Minneapolis, fill out our Contact Form or call 800-770-7008.