When you’re trying to settle an injury case, at some point in time you’re going to have to deal with an insurance claims adjuster. While they may come with any number of titles, when you are seeking settlement for an accident, these are the people with whom you’ll negotiate, at least at first. You’ll generally not speak with the actual insurance company.
This can be very frustrating, especially when the person on the other side of the table refuses to offer even a fraction of what your case is worth. Learn the answer to the question of what is an insurance adjuster, what they do, and why having the help of a personal injury attorney is important to settle your case.
What Is an Insurance Adjuster?
So what is an insurance adjuster, exactly? These are agents of the insurance company who sometimes work directly for the company, but who may also be independent contractors, and their sole job is to settle your claim as fast as possible. They’re evaluated specifically on how many cases they can resolve, and how low their payouts are.
In fact, many of these people are severely limited in what they’re permitted to pay, with these limits depending on the experience the adjuster has, and whether they are a contractor or not. They’ll never tell you what these limits are, and they can range anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000.
For a free legal consultation, call (719) 520-9909Their Job Is to Avoid Paying
Understand that many of these people might have to settle anywhere from 50 to 100 cases per month, just to break even. They don’t bother to research your case—at best they give it a cursory glance to get the basic facts. They then will try anything they can to get you to sign off on as low a settlement as possible. At first, they’ll usually try to come off as your only friend, the one who understands.
If you refuse their initial low payout, they might threaten you with nothing. They might dance for a while before starting to adopt strong-arm and bullying tactics. They might even say that they noticed something that makes it look like the accident was your fault.
You can counter this by keeping detailed records of your case, from the impact on your health to lost records and the damage to your quality of life, and by refusing to sign their offers. Instead, refer them to your attorney.
How an Attorney Helps
You always have the right, in any negotiation, to tell the other side that your lawyer will be taking over negotiations. Instead of being frustrated and asking yourself, “what is an insurance adjuster?” call on the help of a qualified and experienced accident attorney. The right attorney will take over negotiations and fight for your rights every step of the way.
Attorneys like those at Heuser & Heuser, LLP, can give you the best shot at significant compensation for your injuries. If you’re having trouble with an insurance adjuster, give us a call for a free discussion about your case today.
Call or text (719) 520-9909 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
