Insurance adjusters are employees of the insurance company, and their interest is to maximize the profits of their employer. This means they will always work hard to minimize your compensation.
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They utilize their knowledge and expertise to ascertain if the party claiming a loss should be compensated according to the terms of the insurance policy. They also evaluate the amount a complainant should receive.
Insurance adjusters work to determine all types of losses, such as bodily injuries and property damage. In most cases, they work for major insurance companies. Only in rare circumstances, one may find them working as independent contractors who may represent the claimants’ interests.
When you find yourself dealing with these claim adjusters, please don't do it on your own. They offer low compensation and try to convince you into accepting it. Your personal injury lawyer will help counter their ill intent. Ensure you have your attorney while talking to these insurance adjusters.
In this article, we will keenly dissect the role of insurance adjusters in a personal injury claim to help you understand their mission. Let’s dive in.
The Role of Insurance Adjusters
The insurance adjuster's role commences the moment a claim is filed. Their primary responsibility in a personal injury claim is as follows:
- They notify the insurer of the coverage under the policy terms only after examining and verifying that insurance coverage applies to the loss.
- They ensure that claim evaluation begins on time, depending on the type of loss.
- The insurance adjuster is responsible for filling out essential paperwork, communicating with the claimant, and investigating the assignment of liability.
- They inspect and assess the damage physically. They must travel to a particular location to inspect any damages, such as a damaged vehicle, or go to a hospital to verify all the medical records and claimant's information if the accident resulted in bodily injuries.
- They initiate the research of market values and ascertain average replacement costs related to each aspect of the claim to cover for
- Property damage
- Loss of personal belongings
- Any additional expense that needs to be compensated
- They prepare a comprehensive report that is later given to the insurance company.
- They negotiate with the victim to try to settle if need be.
- If the agreement to the settlement is not reached, the insurance adjuster may go back to the drawing board and research for new information or proof that could give room for a different offer.
- It is important to note that the insurance adjuster's primary goal is to protect the company's interests, not the victims.
They work around the clock to ensure that an overpayment, or any payment, should not be processed into an illegitimate or exaggerated claim.
Insurance Adjusters and Personal Injury Claim
Insurance adjusters play a significant role in the personal injury claim process. However, the victims should be aware of their tactics and make good use of their attorneys to deal with any ill intent of the claimant adjuster.
Some challenges a victim may face in dealing with an insurance adjuster include
- Low initial offers
- Pressure for quick settlements that lack the victim's interest
- Limited communication
- Bias
With an experienced attorney by their side, the victim can easily tackle the insurance adjuster.
