Following a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you may assume that you will get the compensation you deserve for your injuries and pain and suffering. But it may shock you to find out what an insurance adjuster is really up to following the crash.
Did you know that adjusters who handle truck injury claims are some of the most seasoned employees and are very good at what they do? They know how to minimize their company’s liability. When you are injured in a trucking wreck, a sizeable amount of money may be on the line. So when you get a call from an insurance adjuster representing the liable party, the adjuster is looking at ways to limit your claim. Adjusters know how to do this by using the following techniques.
Getting You to Trust Them
While it may appear on the surface that the adjuster is concerned about your injuries and wants to make sure you get compensated for your pain, the truth of the matter is that the insurance adjuster for the trucking company is actually trying to figure out how to pay you as little money as possible. Consequently, you cannot and should not trust an insurance adjuster. The insurance adjuster is not on your side no matter what he or she tells you. Remember, the insurance adjuster’s job is to save the insurance company money. In fact, many insurance companies reward their employees (the adjusters) with bonuses and promotions for settling claims for pennies on the dollar. When an adjuster’s own pocketbook and career is at stake, please don’t think for one minute that the adjuster is someone you can trust.
Using Tricks and Tactics to Manipulate You
One of the most common tricks adjusters use is to act like your friend and tell you they will make sure you get the compensation you deserve. The adjuster will try to get you to trust him and talk to him so that you will make statements that contradict your claim. An adjuster will do this by asking for a recorded statement and asking you similar questions designed to trick you. Even if it just seems like he is having a friendly conversation with you, know that he is trained to ask tricky questions that are designed to trap you into saying something they can use to lower the value of your claim. This is why you never want to provide an adjuster with a recorded statement without an attorney.
Another trick is making a lowball offer and attaching a deadline on it. This causes many injured victims to panic and accept the unfair offer even though it is not the amount of money the claim is worth. If your case is within the statute of limitations (which is usually two years), the insurance adjuster cannot put a false deadline on a settlement offer.
Telling You That You Don’t Need an Attorney
Insurance companies don’t want victims to seek legal representation because they typically will have to pay out more money on claims. They know that if you retain a lawyer, you will be advised of all your rights and that your attorney will handle the case for you, which means you will not be accepting the first settlement offer, usually a lowball offer. The truth is that not every case warrants an attorney’s involvement, and there are many injured victims who have handled their own cases and feel satisfied with their settlements. However, when serious injuries are involved—especially the type of injuries that occur in 18-wheeler accidents—it is best to have an attorney handle your case so that you receive the maximum compensation possible.
Our law firm knows the tricks and tactics insurance adjusters use following a trucking crash, and we can help you obtain a fair recovery. Give us a call today for a free consultation.
