After an accident, the insurance adjuster who calls you may sound friendly, even helpful. But their job isn’t to make sure you’re treated fairly. Their job is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line, and that means paying you as little as possible. Knowing the tactics adjusters use is the first step toward protecting the compensation you deserve.
Common Insurance Tactics and How to Respond
The quick, lowball offer. Insurers often make a fast settlement offer before you know how badly you’re hurt. When bills are piling up, it can feel like a relief. But once you accept, you usually can’t ask for more, even if you later need surgery or months of physical therapy. Never settle until your doctors understand your long-term prognosis and a car accident lawyer in Weston, FL has reviewed the offer.
The recorded statement. An adjuster may ask to record your account “for their files.” Innocent comments like “I’m fine” or “I didn’t see them coming” can later be used to suggest you weren’t really hurt or were partly at fault. You generally don’t have to give the other party’s insurer a recorded statement. Politely decline and refer them to your attorney.
Questioning your medical treatment. Insurers look for gaps in care, late doctor visits, or “pre-existing conditions” to argue that your injuries aren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident. See a doctor right away, follow your treatment plan, and keep every medical record and receipt.
Shifting the blame. If the insurer can argue that you were partly responsible, it can reduce what it pays. Maybe you were distracted, going too fast, or not watching your step. Protect yourself by photographing the scene, collecting witnesses’ contact information, and getting a copy of the police or incident report.
Watching your social media. Adjusters do check online profiles. A single photo of you at a family barbecue can be used to claim you aren’t really injured. Set your accounts to private, and don’t post about the accident or your activities until your case is resolved.
Delay, delay, delay. Some insurers drag out claims, hoping you’ll get frustrated and accept less. Meanwhile, the legal deadline to file keeps running. Keep a written record of every conversation, and don’t let time run out on your rights.
You don’t have to face the insurance company alone. An experienced injury attorney can handle every call with adjusters, gather the evidence that proves your claim, calculate the full value of your losses, and take your case to court if the insurer won’t be fair. At Rafaeli Law PLLC, we hold insurance companies accountable and treat every client as family, not just another file. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win. Don’t wait. Call now for a free consultation and let us fight for the compensation you deserve.
About the Author
