7 Tips For Talking To an Insurance Claims Adjuster

If you or somebody you love has been injured due to the negligent actions of another person, business, or entity, then you should be able to recover compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier. However, these cases are rarely cut and dry. Insurance carriers are for-profit entities, and their goal is to pay as little as possible for a claim, regardless of the claim’s validity. If you are trying to recover compensation in the aftermath of an injury, there are some tips you need to follow when speaking to the insurance claims adjuster.

When will the claims adjuster call?

If you have been injured due to the negligence of another person, you can be sure that the claims adjuster for their insurance carrier will call you reasonably quickly after the incident occurs. This may be within a day or two after the incident. Most people are familiar with insurance claims adjusters in the aftermath of the car accident case, but an adjuster will be involved anytime an insurance carrier is handling a personal injury claim.

Tips for talking to the insurance claims adjuster

how to talk to insurance claims adjusters

1. Remain calm and stay polite

If you are not happy with the at-fault driver or the way the claims process is proceeding, you still need to do your best to remain calm when speaking to the claims adjuster. Getting angry and being rude to the adjuster is not going to help. If you remain calm and polite with the insurance claims adjuster, this may help ensure that your claim is processed more smoothly.

2. Get the name of the person you are talking to

Anytime you are called by an insurance carrier, get the name, phone number, and business address of the adjuster you are speaking with. Ask for this information every time they call you.

3. Give limited personal information

You do not need to go into detail about your personal life with the insurance claims adjuster. The only personal information they need from you is your full name, your address, and phone number. You can tell them where you work and what your occupation is, but you do not need to go into details about your daily life activities, hobbies, work schedule, income, etc.

4. Don’t discuss details of the accident

Do everything you can not to discuss details of the accident with the claims adjuster (and any other party for that matter). Let the facts of the case, such as video and photo surveillance, eyewitness statements, and accident reports, do all of the talking for you. The more you talk about the incident, the more likely the claims adjuster will find inconsistencies in your story to use against you.

5. Don’t discuss your injuries

The insurance claims adjuster will ask about your injuries, but you do not need to go into detail. You are not the doctor, so any attempt to describe your injuries could end up backfiring and be used against you later. Let the claims adjuster know that you are still receiving medical treatment and let that be the end of the conversation.

6. Resist early settlement offers

The at-fault party’s insurance carrier will likely offer an initial settlement that may seem enticing. However, please understand that most early settlements will be far below what you should be receiving for your claim. Think of these early settlements as your starting point in negotiating upward.

7. Don’t give a recorded statement

The insurance claims adjuster may tell you that you need to give a recorded statement in order for your claim to be processed. This is not true, and the sole purpose of getting a recorded statement from you is to use any inconsistencies in your story against you later. Continually reiterate that you will not be giving a recorded statement.

If you believe your insurance claim has been underpaid of unfairly denied, contact a Chicago insurance claim denial attorney to learn more about suing an insurance company.