Our Virginia Car Accident Attorney Explains How to Handle a Difficult Insurance Adjuster Who Has Made You Cry
Sometimes, even if you’ve done nothing wrong, a once-friendly insurance adjuster can become more confrontational and challenge your right to compensation. They may claim you’re not the victim or minimize your injuries in an attempt to convince you to agree to an early settlement. They may bring up a litany of potential flaws in your case to break your confidence and pester you with calls. For some, the frustration and stress during such confrontations can lead to tears.
You don’t deserve to be treated like that. No one should pressure you to make statements or accept settlements. No one should make you cry, lose sleep, or experience anxiety. You have suffered enough as a result of the accident and your injuries. Luckily, you don’t have to face it all alone. At Dulaney, Lauer, & Thomas, we can be your advocate and help “even the playing field” between large insurance companies and injured individuals. We help you find the peace of mind you need for your recovery process. If you’re dealing with a confrontational insurance adjuster right now, we have some helpful tips for dealing with them until you can retain a car accident attorney who will fight for you.
Insurance Adjusters and Their Role in the Claims Process
Insurance adjusters are employees of (or contractors for) insurance companies who review claims and determine payments and denials. Whether they’re employees or contractors, they work for the insurance company – not you. It’s important to remember that they’re not necessarily on your side.
General Tips for Dealing With Insurance Companies After an Accident
Even if an insurance adjuster seems kind, it’s important to be cautious when talking with any representative from an insurance company. Otherwise, you may say something an adjuster can use to deny or minimize your claim. Here are a few tips for handling interactions with insurance adjusters:
- Understand the details of your policy. Read your policy before filing a claim to understand the details of your coverage. This can make it easier to spot attempts to undervalue or deny your claim.
- Don’t take the first offer. Insurance companies typically try to convince people to accept lower offers. They hope you won’t negotiate, either because you need money quickly or because you think you won’t get a better offer.
- Get everything in writing. It’s important to have a record of interactions in case you need them as evidence later. Request emails whenever possible so you can have a time-stamped paper trail.
- Be polite but professional. Remember, even if your adjuster seems kind, they work for the insurance company, not you. Be polite, but maintain a professional distance and demeanor.
- Do not agree to give a recorded statement unless you have consulted an attorney. Insurance companies sometimes request recorded statements so they can find something to use against people later. Consult with an attorney about whether or not you should provide a recorded statement and what you should say.
- Gather evidence. Collect any evidence related to your case, including photos, bills, and witness statements. Strong evidence can help you make a case for the full worth of your claim with insurance.
Tips for Handling Difficult or Aggressive Insurance Adjusters
Unfortunately, some insurance adjusters are more difficult to deal with. They may become pushy or even bullying. It’s important to remember these key tips for handling difficult adjusters:
- Be patient. Avoid impulsive decisions or reactions, whether you’re contemplating insurance offers or in the middle of a conversation with the adjuster. If you lose your temper, you may risk losing credibility or saying something that can hurt your claim.
- Maintain boundaries. If the adjuster has been bullying you, take a day or two before calling back or accepting calls. Take the time to cool down and consider the situation carefully to determine if you can handle it differently in the next call. Speak with the adjuster about how they’re behaving.
- Speak with a supervisor. Unfortunately, we all know some people who either don’t understand why their behavior is wrong or don’t want to change. If the adjuster continues with their bullying behavior, ask to speak with their supervisor.
- Ask for a different adjuster. Insurance companies regularly re-assign claims, so you can ask to be switched to a different adjuster.
- File a claim against the insurance company. If nothing changes and the adjuster continues to bully you, file a complaint with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Why You Need a Virginia Car Accident Attorney to Help With Insurance Claims
Each of these tips can help you make interactions with an insurance adjuster go a bit more smoothly, but there’s one thing that can ensure you don’t have to deal with the bullying adjuster again. If you hire a personal injury attorney, they can handle all insurance negotiations on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your recovery rather than deal with the stress of conversations with insurance adjusters.
Our car accident attorneys at Dulaney, Lauer, & Thomas are dedicated to dealing with insurance so you can recover your peace of mind. We’ll handle every aspect of your case and stand up for your rights.
