What Not to Say to an Insurance Adjuster

If you’ve recently been involved in an auto accident, it’s likely to have been, at the very least, an overwhelming experience, if not a traumatic one, especially if you sustained injuries in the accident. However, there are going to be a lot of issues you’ll have to deal with to process insurance claims in the aftermath of the collision. You’re going to have to spend some time talking to insurance adjusters, who will want to discern the facts of the case. This can be understandably nerve-racking, as if you say something wrong it could irreparably harm your case.

As long as you know in advance how to deal with a conversation with an insurance adjuster, there’s nothing you need to worry about. Here are some tips from a car accident lawyer in Sunset, FL about what you shouldn’t say to the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster:

• I was at fault: You should never, ever admit fault in the accident, or say anything that could be construed as an admission of guilt. If you believe you were at fault for the accident, it’s better to not say anything at all. If you do choose to answer questions asked by an adjuster, only state the facts—do not make any guesses or estimations. If something you say does turn out to be incorrect, the adjuster could try to use this information against you and claim you were being deliberately dishonest.
• I wasn’t hurt: Many injuries that occur in accidents have symptoms that can take a while to show up. One of the worst things you can say in a conversation with an adjuster, then, is that you were not injured. If you do end up experiencing any symptoms or are diagnosed with an injury and have already stated you were not injured, you’ll have an extremely difficult time getting compensation for any medical treatment or pain and suffering you experience.
• Any recorded statements: An insurance adjuster will likely ask you to make a recorded statement. Don’t feel like you have to agree to make a recorded statement if you are asked to provide one—you are not under any legal obligation to do so, and it is actually in your best interest to not agree to this request.
• Statements of opinion: You should never start making any guesses or estimations about what happened in your accident. If there is a question to which you do not know the answer, you’re going to start getting yourself into trouble if you attempt to respond. Stick to the facts, and don’t say anything if you do not know the answer. Again, if anything does turn out to be incorrect, the adjuster could attempt to paint you as being dishonest.

These are just a few tips that might help you get through a conversation with the other party’s insurance adjuster. For more information about what to do if you’ve been involved in a car accident, contact an auto accident attorney in Sunset, FL at the office of Ruben J. Padron, PA.

Categorised in: Car Accidents