🎧 Listen to:
How to Deal with Insurance Adjusters After an Accident
Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. Their goal is to settle your claim for as little as possible. Knowing their tactics helps you protect yourself and avoid costly mistakes after an accident.
That phone call comes faster than you expect. A day or two after the accident, someone from the insurance company reaches out sounding helpful, maybe even sympathetic. They want to check in. See how you are doing. Get a few details while everything is still fresh. Sounds reasonable, right?
Here is what they are not telling you. That person works for the insurance company. Their job is to pay you as little as possible. Period. Every question they ask has a purpose, and that purpose is not to help you.
I have seen people make costly mistakes in these conversations without even realizing it. They think being honest and cooperative will speed things along. Sometimes it does. It speeds along a lowball settlement that barely covers half their medical bills.
Let me break down what actually happens when an adjuster calls.
Why You Should Think Twice Before Giving a Recorded Statement
They will probably ask for a recorded statement. The way they phrase it makes it sound mandatory, like some routine paperwork everyone has to complete. It is not mandatory. You can say no. And honestly, you probably should. Because here is the thing. You might feel fine the day after a crash. Adrenaline does that. But a week later your neck is killing you and your back seizes up every morning. That recorded statement where you said “I feel okay” is now being used to argue your injuries are not that serious.
The Hidden Strategy Behind Their Questions
They also ask questions that seem harmless but are not. “Walk me through what happened.” “Where were you headed?” “Did you see the other car coming?” These feel like normal conversation, but there is strategy behind every single one. They want you talking. Rambling. Maybe you will mention checking your phone for a split second. Maybe you will say you were running late and in a hurry. Those little details get written down and used against you later.
Why Quick Settlement Offers Are Usually Bad Deals
Quick settlement offers are another favorite move. The adjuster calls with a number, and honestly, sometimes it sounds pretty good when you are stressed about bills and missing work. But think about it. Why would an insurance company rush to hand you money? Because they know something you do not. They know that number is way below what your claim is actually worth. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accident injuries often require ongoing treatment that victims do not anticipate in the early days. Once you cash that check and sign the paperwork, you are done. No going back. No asking for more when you realize you need surgery six months from now.
How Delays Work in Their Favor
On the flip side, some adjusters drag everything out intentionally. They take weeks to return calls. They lose paperwork and ask you to resend things you already sent twice. Meanwhile your bills keep coming. You are stressed. You cannot sleep. Eventually you get so worn down that a mediocre offer starts looking pretty attractive just to end the nightmare. That is exactly what they are counting on.
What to Do When an Adjuster Calls
So what do you actually do when one of these calls comes in?
Keep it short. Confirm basic facts like your name and that an accident occurred. Beyond that, you do not owe them a detailed explanation of anything. If they push for more, it is perfectly fine to say you are not comfortable discussing details right now.
Never talk about your injuries in specifics. Even if you are hurting, stick with something vague. “I am still getting checked out by my doctor” works fine. You do not need to describe every ache and pain, especially when you do not know yet how bad things really are.
Write everything down. Every call, every email, every promise they make. Keep a folder with all your accident related documents. If someone tells you something important over the phone, ask them to send it in an email so you have proof.
Do not say yes to the first number they throw at you. It is almost never their best offer. They expect you to negotiate. Most people do not, which is exactly why they start low.
Watch Out for Blame Shifting
California has this thing called comparative fault where your payout gets reduced if you are partially responsible. Adjusters sometimes float little suggestions like “you could have braked sooner” hoping you will agree. Do not bite. What happened is what happened. You do not need to help them build a case against you.
Why Talking to a Lawyer First Matters
Talk to a lawyer before you talk to anyone else. Seriously. A lot of attorneys do free consultations and they have seen every trick in the book. They can tell you what your claim might actually be worth and handle the back and forth so you do not have to stress about saying the wrong thing. If you have been injured in an accident, speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer can make a real difference in how your case turns out.
Look, I get it. After an accident you just want everything resolved. You want to move on with your life and stop dealing with insurance nonsense. But rushing through this process almost always costs people money. Sometimes a lot of money.
The insurance company is not going to look out for you. They are a business, and their business model depends on paying out as little as they can get away with. Knowing that changes how you approach these conversations. You stop being so trusting. You start asking why they need certain information. You take your time instead of letting them set the pace.
None of this means you have to be rude or confrontational. Just be careful. Protect yourself the same way they are protecting their bottom line.
