Claimants that know what to expect, find it easier to prepare for such a call.
The adjuster’s goals
• Prevent fraud on the part of the claimant
• Settle the assigned claim for the lowest amount of money possible
• Settle the assigned claim as quickly as possible
Actions that can put the claimant at an advantage
• Demonstrating a knowledge of the case
• Showing an awareness of evidence that the adjuster has not yet learned about
• Creating follow-up to an important conversation. That follow-up should take the form of a letter, one that seeks confirmation on facts, such as a specific date, one that was mentioned in the conversation.
Approach that should be taken by claimant
Injury Lawyer in Windsor will usually ask you to get the adjuster’s name; get the name of the insurance company that has hired the caller/adjuster.
Keep a limit on the number of details, regarding the accident that has been assigned to the adjuster. In that way you reduce the chances for offering a guess about what happened. It is best to avoid guessing.
If asked for an estimate of the damage to your vehicle, get an estimate from your own repair shop, and not one that has been suggested by the adjuster. Any estimate from a shop that was suggested by the insurance company is sure to be lower than one that you could obtain.
Emphasize the point that you are getting medical treatment, and your lawyer will be reaching out to the insurance adjuster. Do not agree to negotiate until you have reached the point of maximum medical improvement. Realize that at the close of a settlement, you should expect to be signing a release. Never agree to sign anything; claimants are not required by law to honor such a request.
It is important that you do not agree to give a recorded statement. Again, no legal ruling states that a claimant must provide the insurance company with a recorded statement. Do not accept the first offer presented by the adjuster. That offer should be viewed as the start of negotiations. If you know the cost of your treatment, and you know the minimum amount of money that you would agree to accept in a settlement, then you are ready to negotiate.
Do not let the adjuster know the minimum figure that you would accept in a final settlement. Instead, be ready to evaluate that same figure. If it is close to the adjuster’s first offer, then you should plan to select a different and higher minimum.
Study the responses that mention a weakness in your case. If they make a valid argument, then you might want to reduce the figure that you had set as a minimum. Otherwise, it could prove difficult to reach a settlement.