Car insurance policies are designed to cover auto accident damages—including injuries sustained by those involved. If you were harmed in a collision that wasn’t your fault, you can file a claim with the liable party’s insurance provider to seek compensation for your personal injury. Before you’re able to receive any funds, however, you’ll need to communicate with an adjuster—an insurance professional who calculates settlement offers. Here’s a closer look at how adjusters work and how to navigate this process to improve your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.

What Is the Adjuster’s Goal?

Adjusters work for the insurance company. As such, they’ll design a settlement offer that best reflects the financial interests of the insurance provider—not you. Although the adjuster’s incentive is to save their employer money, they must also make an offer that is acceptable enough to prevent you from taking a personal injury lawsuit to court—a risk that may end up costing the insurer more in the long run.

How Do Adjusters Calculate Settlement Offers?

Policy Terms

The at-fault driver’s insurance policy will have limits assigned to injury-related damages. In Georgia, for example, drivers must have liability coverage that offers a minimum of $25,000 per bodily injury and $50,000 total per accident. However, some policies may offer additional coverage with higher limits. An adjuster’s settlement will never exceed this limit and will often be lower.

Related Medical Expenses

Adjusters will design settlements to cover your medical costs related to the accident—such as ambulatory, diagnostic, surgical, and rehabilitative care expenses.  

Lost Income

If an accident-related injury kept you from working, the insurance adjuster may consider your lost wages as part of the settlement offer.

Pain & Suffering

A settlement offer will typically include an amount to cover the physical and emotional pain you suffered as a result of being harmed in the auto accident.

How Can an Attorney Help With Settlement Negotiations?

You can hire a personal injury lawyer to communicate with the adjuster on your behalf. Working to satisfy your best interests as a client, your attorney will negotiate with the adjuster to make sure your offer is fair based on the extent of your injuries and all applicable insurance laws. They’ll also give you legal advice, so if you decide that an offer is unacceptable, they’ll help you file a lawsuit against the insurance company to seek out proper compensation in court.

Before you speak with an insurance adjuster about your auto accident injuries, consult with the attorneys at Morrison & Hughes Law Firm in Marietta, GA. Specializing in personal injury cases, these lawyers will review your damages in-depth and negotiate with the insurance company in a way that best suits your interests according to state laws. Visit this Atlanta-area law office online to learn more about these services and their other practice areas—including workplace injuries and disability claims. To schedule a free consultation with a compassionate attorney, call the firm at (404) 800-5297.