Insurance companies employ adjusters to investigate and process insurance claims. Insurance claims adjusters handle all types of insurance claims, including traffic accidents, slip and fall accidents, and property damage.
Under Florida law, insurance adjusters must be licensed. That includes independent insurance adjusters employed by an adjusting firm, public adjusters, and insurance company adjusters. Adjusters must pass a licensing exam and maintain continuing education credits.
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Insurance Claims Adjusters Work for the Insurance Company
Regardless of whether you deal with an insurance company employee or a claims adjuster from an adjusting firm, you need to remember that the adjuster protects the insurance company’s best interest. Their goal is to deny claims or reduce the company’s liability for damages.
In other words, an insurance adjuster is always looking for ways to undervalue damages and deny claims.
Adjusters investigate claims to determine:
- Whether a party covered by the insurance policy caused your injury
- If the insurance policy covers the incident that led to your injury
- Determine the extent of your injuries and damages caused by the insured’s actions
- The value of your damages and how much the insurance company should pay to settle the claim
The type of insurance that compensates injured parties is liability insurance. A party may have liability insurance covering automobile accidents, medical malpractice, property damage, and injuries on another party’s property.
What Do You Need to Know About Dealing with Insurance Adjusters in Boca Raton?
Adjusters work for the insured party’s insurance provider. Unfortunately, their job is to pay you as little as possible to settle your injury claim.
Insurance adjusters are highly-trained, skilled professionals who perform their job well. Before dealing with an insurance adjuster, you need to know these five things:
1. An Insurance Adjuster Does Not Work for You
The insurance adjuster may tell you that they are on your side and working hard to get you the money you deserve for an accident claim. However, your best interests are not a priority for an adjuster. Instead, they are more interested in saving the insurance company money.
However, if you talk to an attorney, you might discover that the settlement offer from the claims adjuster is far below the actual value of your claim. Do not trust what an adjuster tells you. Instead, seek legal advice from a Boca Raton personal injury attorney.
2. The Statements You Make to a Claims Adjuster Could Hurt Your Case
A claims adjuster may tell you that they cannot investigate the claim without a written or recorded statement. However, that is not the case.
The insurance adjuster wants you to provide an official statement to lock you into a specific set of facts. Later, if you try to change your story, the claims adjuster can use the statement against you.
Insurance adjusters are trained to ask leading questions and open-ended questions that result in answers they can use against you. It is best to avoid talking to an insurance adjuster before discussing your case with an accident lawyer.
If you talk to the insurance adjuster, answer the questions without providing unnecessary information. Provide straightforward, concise responses without exaggerating the facts.
3. The Insurance Adjuster May Try to Blame You
Blaming the accident victim is a standard tactic insurance companies use to avoid liability. Florida’s contributory fault laws reduce the amount of money you receive by your percentage of fault for the injuries.
For example, suppose a jury determines that you were 20 percent at fault for the accident. In that event, the amount of money you can receive for damages is reduced by 20 percent.
Watch out for this common insurance tactic. Protect yourself by limiting your conversations with the insurance adjuster until after receiving legal advice from an accident attorney.
4. Claims Adjusters Do Not Tell You the Correct Value of Damages
You might ask the insurance adjuster what your personal injury case is worth. The adjuster might tell you that they worked really hard to get the company to pay a higher amount for your claim. But, in reality, the amount offered does not compensate you for all damages.
If you did not contribute to the cause of your injury, you should be entitled to full reimbursement for all financial losses. Those damages include lost wages, medical bills, and other economic damages.
You are also entitled to compensation for your non-economic damages. These damages include permanent impairments, pain and suffering, and a diminished quality of life. In addition, some personal injury cases may justify an award of punitive damages.
5. Quick Settlements Are Not in Your Best Interest
Before you accept a settlement offer, talk with a personal injury lawyer. Quick settlements are generally low offers designed to get you to settle the claim before you talk with a lawyer or realize the extent of your injuries.
When you sign a settlement agreement, you give up your right to pursue other claims or additional damages. In other words, you cannot demand more money or file a lawsuit even if you discover additional injuries or damages.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Boca Raton Personal Injury Lawyer
You do not need to deal with aggressive insurance adjusters alone. Instead, you can have a legal team on your side fighting for a fair and just settlement for your injury claim. Contact our law office to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys in Boca Raton.
