Car accidents are oftentimes highly traumatic situations. After going through the toil of an accident, you may be exhausted by the thought of a lawsuit. Insurance adjusters, also known as claims specialists, work to assess your claim against the insurance company. They examine property damage, as well as medical expenses, and draft up a settlement amount. Insurance adjusters normally contact you not too long after the accident.
At this point, you can be disillusioned and ready to just take what they give you. However, this may not be a good idea. You may be shortchanging yourself and could walk away with a settlement that is much lower than you deserve.
Monitor Your Discussions
There are two types of claims specialists. One that works for the company and another that works for an independent firm. For instance, if your insurance company does not have an office in Colorado Springs, then they would use an independent claims specialist. Independent claims specialist need authorization from the insurance company to give a specific settlement amount. It doesn’t matter if the claims specialist is in-house or independent, their initial calls are meant to get you to settle out of court or admit partial liability. It is important to keep your conversations with insurance adjusters very short. It would be even better if you deferred them to your attorney. Anything you say over the phone can be used against you in a court of law. In the meantime, take notes of everything that is discussed during the phone conversation.
Don’t Sign Any Papers
The insurance adjuster is given a settlement limit by the insurance company. This limit normally goes up to $20,000. Do not give any statements over the phone or without your attorney present. Do not sign any forms without your attorney present. Signing a release form will make the insurance company privy to medical or any other personal information that can be used against you. The insurance company cannot get any medical records without your consent. In fact, they will only get this information once you provide it to them during the claims process.
Talk To An Attorney
It is important to be aware of trickery or coercion over the phone by insurance adjusters. A skilled attorney will be able to communicate with them properly and coach you on what to say over the phone. If you are in the Colorado Springs area and you are looking for a personal injury attorney that you can trust, look no further than Heuser & Heuser LLP. Our attorneys are skilled at handling all types of collisions, including trucking accidents and motorcycle accidents. You can call, email, or even chat with us live! We are here to serve you and we guarantee that you will walk away satisfied with your settlement. Contact us today to learn more.
