Insurance plans financially protect you in case you become injured. Insurance adjusters attempt to save their companies money by minimizing or denying claims and discouraging you from retaining a lawyer. If you have been in an accident, knowing what adjusters do will make it easier to ensure your claim is approved.

Strategies Insurance Adjusters Use After an Accident

1. Calling You Right After the Injury

After an accident, you may receive a call from your insurance company before you have time to talk to a lawyer. They’ll record the conversation to be used as testimony. In your initial statement, you may not have known the extent of your injuries. Once a doctor properly evaulates you, your later statement might contradict the initial one, and an adjuster might use that inconsistency to discredit your claim. Retaining a lawyer to act as an intermediary can help protect you from this tactic.

2. Offering You a Quick Settlement

Insurance companies will sometimes offer a quick settlement. It’s tempting to take the money, but if you do, the insurance company will consider the matter resolved, and you will not be able to reopen the claim if you require more treatment.

3. Asking You for Medical Authorization

Medical authorization gives insurance companies access to your entire medical history. Adjusters will try to find records of prior injuries and pre-existing conditions that could be the source of your pain, rather than the car accident or fall that actually caused it. If successful, they can deny your claim.

4. Misrepresenting Your Interests

Some insurance adjusters will misrepresent the extent of your coverage and offer lower settlements than you are entitled to. They may also attempt to dissuade you from continuing your treatment programs, claiming that it won’t be covered. If you comply, the insurance company can use this as proof that your injury was not as severe as reported, or even totally fabricated.

5. Telling You Not to Hire a Lawyer

To get you to agree to a settlement quickly, some adjusters will claim that there isn’t time for you to consult an attorney, or by doing so, you would no longer be eligible for benefits. This is untrue. Lawyers who practice in insurance coverage and personal injury are there to ensure your best interests are central to the claim, not saving money.

If you have been injured in an accident, reach out to Bellotti Law Group, P.C. With over 30 years of experience, Peter Bellotti and his team of compassionate lawyers have held insurance companies accountable, ensuring policyholders are treated fairly and recover what they are owed. Peter Bellotti is dedicated to his clients and has presented cases to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. If you’re in the Greater Boston area, call (617) 778-1000 to schedule a free consultation. For more information in their practice areas, including personal injury, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death, visit their website.