Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident? 4 Tips for Corresponding with the Insurance Adjuster

If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident and you intend to seek damages, chances are you won’t actually correspond with the liable party at all. Instead, their insurance carrier will assign an adjuster to your case.

Insurance adjusters are responsible for investigating claims to determine if they’re valid and, if so, how much they might be worth. In other words, the outcome of your case—at least when it comes to the settlement negotiations—hinges on the adjuster’s impressions.

Because so much is at stake, it’s important to handle all correspondence with the adjuster with care. Otherwise, you run the risk of jeopardizing your claim.

Read on for some of the most important strategies to keep in mind when interacting with the insurance adjuster so you don’t hurt your case inadvertently:

1. Don’t Give Any Recorded Statements

The insurance adjuster will probably ask for a recorded statement fairly early in the proceedings. If you give one, it will serve as the foundation of your entire claim.

While that’s not automatically a bad thing, it could pose a problem if the things you discuss end up changing later. For example, if you talk about your injuries, you’re essentially “locking in” their associated damages. Should you suffer complications after giving the statement, you may not be able to include the additional damages in the settlement negotiations.

2. Don’t Say Anything You Don’t Know with 100 Percent Certainty

Even if you’re merely discussing what happened in a casual setting and not giving a formal statement, you should not say anything to the insurance adjuster that you don’t know with 100 percent certainty. If there turn out to be discrepancies between what you say and what actually happened, it will give the carrier reason to challenge your credibility.

3. Don’t Admit to or Accept Blame

Even if you think you played a role in the wreck, you shouldn’t share that information with the insurance carrier. Instead, let your legal team know. They will keep your concerns in mind during their investigation.

If it turns out you were right, your motorcycle accident attorney will determine precisely how much blame you shouldered and then gather the evidence needed to prove it before sharing such information with the carrier. As long as your contribution to the collision was smaller than the defendant’s, you should still be able to seek compensation.

4. Don’t Interact with Them on Social Media

Corresponding with the insurance adjuster on social media may seem like an easy and convenient way to further your claim. As long as they have access to your profiles, though, they can monitor your online activity. Depending on the kinds of things you post—and how they could be interpreted—the adjuster may try to use your photos, statuses, and check-ins to deny or at least devalue your claim.

Discuss Your Case with a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Minneapolis

If you’re recovering from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, turn to Bradshaw & Bryant. Our tireless team will advocate for you at every stage of the proceedings and ultimately keep the carrier from taking advantage of your financial desperation. Call 800-770-7008 or complete our Contact Form to set up a free case review with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Minneapolis.