When you file an insurance claim after a car accident, an insurance adjuster will contact you for more details about the incident. Especially when recovering from an injury, their questioning can feel overwhelming. An insurance adjuster works for the insurance company – their focus is not to help you, but to keep costs as low as possible for the insurer, so you need to be careful of what you say.

Prepare yourself for speaking with an insurance adjuster – our Silver Spring car accident lawyers discuss the different information they will request below. If you need assistance with your car accident injury claim, request a free, no obligation consultation today. Our attorneys know how to deal with adjusters to protect your best interests and are prepared to handle all insurance communications on your behalf.

Provide Personal Information

One of the first things the insurance adjuster will ask for is your personal information. There is no need to go into great detail here – the basics will do.

As requested, provide the insurance adjuster with the following basic personal information:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Employer

Details Regarding the Accident

The insurance adjuster may ask you to provide a statement about the accident, asking for your version of how it happened. This may not always be so obvious – he or she could ask leading questions during the conversation in attempts to get you to speak about the accident.

You should refuse to provide any information except the essential details of the accident, which include:

  • Where the accident occurred
  • When the accident took place
  • The type of accident
  • Vehicles involved
  • Responsible parties
  • Witness identities

You may tell the insurance adjuster that your accident investigation is still ongoing, and you do not wish to speak further about it at this time. Within your written demand for compensation, you will provide details regarding the accident.

Details of Your Injuries

Just as he or she will want to know about the accident, the insurance adjuster will also want details about your injuries. You do not want to provide a detailed description of your injuries at this time. The extent of your injuries may not yet be known. You may be experiencing a delayed injury after the car accident or your injuries may turn out to be worse than you think. Also, it is easy to leave out critical details during a conversation, and this omission could be used against you.

Give a Recorded Statement

Insurance adjusters often ask victims to provide a recorded statement of the information you discussed. You should decline this request – never give a recorded statement during your initial talks with the insurance adjuster.

What does an insurance adjuster use a recorded statement for? These statements are easily used against you as the insurance company tries to lower the amount of money they must pay. Your statements can be taken out of context and used to discredit your claim down the line.

Sign Documents to Access Medical Records

The insurance adjuster may ask you to provide access to medical documents relevant to your accident and injury. You may have already provided some medical records with your claim, but he or she may wish to access certain items you did not provide, such as actual physical X-rays that go with the radiologist’s report you may have sent, or medical records pertaining to a pre-existing injury.

You are allowed to decide if the insurance adjuster’s request for your medical records is reasonable. If you decide to provide these records, inform the adjuster that you will do so if the insurance company will pay the cost, as many medical offices charge an administrative fee for providing documentation. Be sure to confirm this agreement in writing.

Request medical records from your physicians yourself and review them before you forward them to the insurance company. Remove any documentation that is not relevant to your accident and injuries. However, it is always a good idea to discuss these records requests with a trusted attorney before giving the insurance company anything.

Speak with an Attorney to Learn More

If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, it is in your best interest to hire a car accident attorney as soon as possible to help with your claim. At Goldberg Finnegan, we can help you pursue negligent drivers and hold them accountable for the harm they have caused while working to try to recover maximum compensation for you.

Request a free, no obligation consultation today to learn more about the legal options available to you. There are no upfront fees and payment is only due if we recover compensation for your case.