Even if you consider yourself a master of trickery, there’s a good chance your insurance adjuster has more tricks up their sleeves than you do. Insurance adjusters have one main goal: to save their company money. And sometimes, that means they’ll try to pay you less than what you deserve.
To achieve this, the insurance adjuster will try to lowball you in more ways than one, so you have to be careful.
The personal injury lawyers at Morris Bart are excellent negotiators, and they are the right guys to have by your side when it’s time for the meeting with the adjuster.
Morris Bart is one of the top law firms in the US that has secured over $1 billion for accident victims. With them by your side, you have a better chance at fair compensation.
The Tricks that Adjusters Typically Use
Here’s what the insurance adjuster is likely to do in a bid to scam you out of your full payment:
Dragging Things Out
They might make you wait weeks, or even months, for responses, hoping that you’ll get tired of waiting and just accept whatever offer they throw at you. It can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to get your life back on track. But that’s exactly why they do it: the longer they can make you wait, the more likely you are to settle just to be done with it.
The best thing to do at this point would be to keep pushing for answers. If you have a lawyer on your side, they can help move things along and make sure the adjuster knows you’re not just going to roll over and accept whatever they offer.
Giving You a Pile of Paperwork
This one is a classic move, handing you a massive stack of paperwork and saying, “Just sign here, it’s no big deal.” But honestly, it’s a huge deal. That paperwork might seem harmless at first glance, but once you sign it, you could be waiving your rights to future compensation or agreeing to a settlement that’s far lower than what you actually need.
The adjuster might make it seem like it’s no big deal, just a formality, but don’t be fooled. Every document you sign is a step toward finalizing your case, and once that happens, you might not have the chance to go back and ask for more later.
Before you sign anything, take your time. Read through the entire document, even if it’s long and complicated. If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. If you feel uncertain, don’t hesitate to get legal advice.
Acting Like You’re Not That Hurt
Another trick adjusters love to pull is downplaying your injuries. Sometimes they’ll even imply that you’re exaggerating your pain or your recovery time. But adjusters are not doctors, and they don’t have the medical expertise to tell you how bad your injuries are or how long it will take to recover. They’re looking for any excuse to minimize the extent of your injuries and offer you less money.
Hiding What You’re Owed
Adjusters aren’t always upfront about what you’re entitled to. They might omit key things like the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired, lost wages because you can’t work, or ongoing medical expenses.
Instead, they’ll suggest that you figure things out yourself, saying things like, “Can’t you borrow a car from a friend?” or, “Just use your sick days at work.” They’re hoping you won’t realize you have the right to be reimbursed for these costs, so they don’t have to pay out more.
You should not let the adjuster get away with hiding these costs or making you feel like they’re not important. Every expense you’ve incurred because of the accident should be included in your claim.
