Hurt in a Truck Accident? 3 Tips for Handling the Insurance Adjuster

If you were hurt in a large truck crash and you intend to take action, you probably won’t end up interacting with the liable party at all. Instead, you’ll likely go through an insurance adjuster, who will be tasked to confirm the validity of your claim and then, assuming everything checks out, negotiate for a settlement.

Since the adjuster’s primary goal is to protect the carrier’s bottom line, it’s important to remember that they’re not on your side. In fact, they will be looking for any reason at all to deny or at least devalue your claim. Therefore, it’s imperative that you handle every interaction strategically and avoid giving them cause to challenge your credibility. Read on for a few tips for doing just that:

1. Refuse to Give a Recorded Statement

The insurance adjuster will probably ask for a recorded statement during one of your early conversations. While this might seem like a reasonable request, it’s important to avoid commenting on the cause of the accident until your legal team has finished their investigation. Otherwise, you run the risk of saying something that turns out to be untrue. Such discrepancies are precisely what carriers look for so they can deny claims.

You should also avoid discussing your condition. Until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement, you do not want to comment on the extent of your injuries, as additional complications can ar

2. Avoid Granting Access to Your Online Activity

Insurance adjusters will often follow claimants on social media in the hopes of finding evidence that they’ve been exaggerating their injuries. If disabling your accounts temporarily is not possible, at least make sure your profiles can only be seen by approved connections, and avoid accepting friend requests from people whom you don’t recognize. They may be working for the carrier.

Since there’s no way to contain something once it’s published online, even with the strictest privacy settings enabled, it’s also wise to avoid posting anything about your injuries, your expenditures, or your pending claim.

3. Refer All Correspondence to Your Legal Team

Enlisting legal help from day one is the easiest way to avoid hurting your claim inadvertently. Once a truck accident attorney has agreed to take your case, you can simply refer the insurance adjuster to them.

A seasoned personal injury lawyer will handle all the logistics of your case, including all correspondence with the opposing party. By asserting your rights—and ignoring the kinds of manipulation tactics that carriers use to get clients to accept unfair payouts—you won’t have to worry about walking away with anything less than you deserve.

Speak with a Minneapolis Truck Accident Attorney

If you’re recovering from truck accident injuries that could have been prevented, turn to Bradshaw & Bryant. We’ll conduct a thorough investigation to identify all liable parties and then gather the evidence needed to prove it so you can pursue the maximum payout possible. Call 800-770-7008 or complete our Contact Form to set up your free case review with a truck accident lawyer in Minneapolis.