The last thing you should have to worry about after a trucking accident is a belligerent insurance company representative. Unfortunately, it is not in the insurance company’s interest to pay the entirety of your claim without a fight. This is precisely why those injured in trucking accidents should obtain legal representation as soon as possible after this unfortunate collision.
How to Interact With an Insurance Adjuster After the Accident
The worst thing you can do after a trucking accident is admit any degree of fault. Do not apologize to the truck driver, other drivers, the police officer or the insurance company representative. Even the slightest admission of guilt could sabotage your case. If you are not thinking clearly or concerned a slip of the tongue will jeopardize your quest for justice, refer the insurance company representative to our trucking accident attorney. We will speak in a strategic manner on your behalf, protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
Establish Boundaries From the Get-Go
There is no obligation to answer questions about your line of work, salary, work schedule or other personal information beyond your name and contact details. It is in your interest to set boundaries as soon as you start the conversation with the insurance adjuster. Provide as little information as possible. Make it clear you will not answer repeated phone calls. Otherwise, the insurance adjuster will likely call you several times after the initial conversation in an attempt to settle your claim for significantly less than its true worth.
Do not Give Consent to a Recorded Conversation
If the insurance company representative asks if you are willing to provide permission to record the phone conversation, respond in the negative. Furthermore, if the representative states there is no option to engage in an unrecorded phone conversation, it is in your best interest to hand this matter off to our attorneys. Even the slightest verbal misstep in a conversation with the insurance adjuster after a trucking accident can sabotage your claim and diminish your chances of obtaining the payout necessary to cover related costs. Another common pitfall with recorded conversations following trucking accidents is that it is human nature to freeze up or verbally stumble simply because of the fact that every single word is being recorded. If you misstate the truth, it will be challenging to alter your statement or add to your statement down the line.
Be Civil and Courteous With the Insurance Adjuster
Do not take out your anger on the insurance adjuster. Though the adjuster might not believe your side of the story, it is not an excuse to belittle him or her. Be kind and courteous throughout the entirety of the conversation. If you are friendly with the insurance adjuster, there is an increased likelihood he or she will be sympathetic to your plight, believe your side of the story and possibly even expedite your claim. Alternatively, if you are contentious with the insurance company representative, he or she is likely to do everything possible to prevent the timely processing and payment of your claim.
The moral of this story is the manner in which you treat the insurance company representative really does have the potential to impact your claim and the chances of a lucrative payout. If you are nasty with the insurance adjuster, he or she will respond in kind by combating every statement you make, delaying the processing of your claim and adding nasty notes to your file for other insurance company representatives to see.
Do not Answer Questions About Your Injuries
The insurance adjuster will likely ask about your injuries. Do not answer these questions. If you answer questions about your injuries, it is a near certainty you will forget to state a critically important fact. It might also be possible that your injuries will worsen as time progresses. In fact, you might not even be fully aware of a latent injury such as whiplash that might take several days or longer to manifest.
