One of the most stressful events to undergo is a car accident, especially if you or a family member suffered injuries. Everything seems to come to a halt while you deal with the aftermath. Losing time from work, dealing with car repairs and fighting with the insurance companies are not the most pleasant things to face when you are in pain and trying to recover from your injuries.
Unfortunately, some insurance adjusters know how distracted and uncertain you may be feeling after a car accident. They may take advantage of your vulnerable condition to reduce the amount of benefits they eventually pay you. If you are aware of some of the tricks an insurance adjuster may use, you may be better able to protect the compensation due to you.
Clever ways an adjuster may fool you
The first thing to remember is that no matter how friendly insurance adjusters may be, they are not your friends. It is their job to put you at ease and lower your defenses. They may be genuinely sympathetic about your health, but their assignment is to try to get you to say something they can use to devalue your claim or to convince you to accept a settlement that is less than you deserve. During their friendly exchanges, an insurance adjuster may use any of the following tactics:
- Urge you to settle quickly because of your mounting medical expenses
- Ask you to sign an incomplete medical authorization that the adjuster will fill in later
- Ask you to make a recording of your statement
An adjuster may also make approval of your claim contingent on the submission of impossible or unreasonable proof. This may include barraging you with paperwork or requiring documentation you have already submitted numerous times.
How to deal with these tactics
Unless you have previous experience handling the methods insurance companies use to protect their bottom line, you may be outmatched. Insurance adjusters receive training on ways to minimize the payouts on accident claims, and that includes capitalizing on your weaknesses. If you feel overwhelmed in the aftermath of an accident, you may be unable to withstand the pressure an insurance adjuster places on you.
Perhaps the most effective way to deal with insurance adjusters is to avoid dealing with them at all. Experienced personal injury attorneys know the law and are skilled in handling the tactics that threaten your claim. If you have an Oklahoma attorney on your side, you can focus on your recovery and getting your life back in order and let your lawyer fight with the insurance adjuster.