SoftSettle Support narrates the following hypothetical situation over a personal injury – auto accident insurance case as cautioning notice to the parties who will find rather difficult time with the insurance company on the occasion of an event – injury or accident.
In your first contact with an insurance adjuster (which usually comes via a phone call) make it clear that you will not be discussing much.
Let the adjuster know that, until you have finished investigating the accident, have completed medical treatment, and have fully recovered from your injuries, you do not want to discuss anything related to:
- how the accident happened
- what your injuries are (or how serious they are, or whether your condition is improving), or
- what a settlement amount should be
In this first discussion with insurance adjuster, set boundaries. Ask that the adjuster communicate with you in writing until you present your written demand for compensation and actual settlement negotiations begin.
In some situations, however, it may not be practical to stop all phone conversations. For example, if you have been in an auto accident, you may need to discuss repairs to your car. If you do need to speak to the adjuster again, set whatever limits you want on the place and times — home or work, morning, evening, weekends — for telephone contact.
There are good reasons to limit your phone conversations with insurance adjusters. Some will call frequently in an attempt to get you to settle quickly, and they can become a real nuisance. It’s good to nip this in the bud.
More important, until you have had a full opportunity to investigate and think about the accident, to determine the nature and extent of your injuries, and to recover (or reach “maximum medical improvement” in insurance parlance), you will not have accurate information to provide. And, if you give incomplete or inaccurate information on the phone, the insurance company may try to make you stick to it later on. Some insurance adjusters are good at getting you to say something which could be considered an admission of some fault on your part, or which limits the seriousness of your injuries. It is therefore much better to have no discussions at all until you have made your compensation demand in writing and you are fully prepared to discuss a settlement.