If you have been involved in an accident that was caused by the negligence of someone else, you are going to be dealing with an insurance company’s insurance adjuster. While you have likely heard the term before, you may not have any idea about the insurance adjuster’s exact role. Understanding the role of the insurance adjuster can help your personal injury claim proceed more smoothly.
The Insurance Adjuster
The insurance company will assign an insurance adjuster to process your claim. It is important to recognize, however, that the adjuster works for the insurance company of the involved negligent party and not for you. To assume that the insurance adjuster is on your side is not in the best interest of your claim.
The Insurance Adjuster’s Job
Insurance adjusters serve many roles:
- They work for the insurance company. They do not work for you.
- They investigate the accident by gathering evidence and proceeding to identify liability.
- They have many investigative tools at their disposal, including witness interviews, police reports, and property damage inspections.
- They may request that you provide a written or recorded statement and that you sign a medical release. You are not required to do either of these, and you should not do so before obtaining the go ahead from your dedicated personal injury attorney.
Finally, your adjuster will likely negotiate with you regarding the settlement of your claim.
The Insurance Company
Again, the insurance adjuster works for the insurance company and not for you – regardless of how compassionately he or she may treat you. The insurance company is in the business of generating immense profits, and insurance adjusters are an important tool in their arsenal. The fact is that the insurance company invests massive amounts of money to minimize settlement offers – like the one to which you are entitled.
In the end, the insurance company and your insurance adjuster are tantamount to necessary evils. You need them to provide you with the compensation necessary to travel the path toward your most complete recovery. Allow your skilled personal injury attorney to champion your rights by wielding his or her experience in support of your claim and its most positive resolution.