Are you dreading having to deal with a car insurance adjuster? Don’t worry we have you covered. Once you file a claim for your car accident, the next step is to deal with a car insurance adjuster. Let’s talk about how to handle negotiating with an insurance adjuster and what you should not tell them.
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What Does An Insurance Adjuster Do?
So what exactly does a car insurance adjuster even do? An adjuster’s main concern is to justify the insurance settlement. It is important that you provide them with the correct documentation to prove your settlement. This will help the entire process go smoothly and help you try to fight for a better settlement.
You might be wondering what it means to work with a car insurance adjuster? Essentially, they will research your accident and study your policy to determine how much money you are entitled to. Since they are fighting for your rights and to get you maximum compensation for the damages, you will want to be respectful and prepared with the necessary documents.
Steps On How To Negotiate
If you have to get an insurance adjuster involved, you will want to know how to negotiate with them. This can definitely be intimidating at first, but if you know your claim value then you will have everything you need to confidently negotiate.
When you initially talk to an insurance adjuster, you will want to first outline all of the circumstances that created your car insurance claim. Walk them through the points that support the value of your claim to get them to understand why you think you deserve this value. It is important to remember that you are not telling the insurance adjuster anything that they probably don’t already know. Instead, you want them to respect you and let them know you are knowledgeable about your claim and the value of it.
Next, you will want to highlight the total amount of damages that was caused by this accident and relate that to the amount that you are demanding for the settlement. From this point, your insurance adjuster will probably say that they will consider the value you are demanding but they will get back to you. Then they might go a few weeks without contacting you. This is all a part of their tactics to get you to settle for less money.
Do not lower your claim value. Let the insurance company make a counteroffer first before you even talk about lowering your claim value. It is important to know that they might ask you for documentation regarding your accident. If this happens, you will need to provide photos, medical records, or police reports. Make sure you send them the information that you think will best help your car insurance claim.
Keep in mind that the insurance adjuster will start low because they are trying to save the insurance company as much money as possible. They want to avoid insurance fraud at all costs. Don’t react emotionally if they send over a low number for your claim. Stay calm and professional throughout the entire negotiation process.
You will want to come up with a realistic amount in your mind that you would settle for. You don’t need to communicate that to your insurance adjuster, but you can slowly reduce your claim. The adjuster will eventually come up with an offer. If the offer is within an acceptable range, you should consider settling for the amount that is mutually agreed upon.
Don’t Say Too Much To An Insurance Adjuster
You will most likely get a call from an insurance adjuster a few days after the accident. You want to make sure you are very careful and intentional about what you say. You will want to make sure you are prepared before you talk to an insurance adjuster. You don’t know what to expect from them and you don’t want to say too much. You want to stay vague so you don’t regret anything in the future as they will hold it against you.
Know their job- It is crucial that you know their role. Their main goal is to prevent insurance fraud and settle claims for a low amount. They try to complete the process very quickly after an accident occurs. You want to keep the conversation concise and air on the side of caution. Don’t give them too much information.
Less is more- It is very important to understand that less is more. Carefully think about what documents and evidence you want your insurance adjuster to have. You might want to speak to a lawyer before you tell an insurance adjuster about the entire situation.
Never settle- Insurance adjusters want you to settle. They hope that you will settle for a lower amount than you asked for. That is their job to lower the initial amount and save the company money. Always try to negotiate a better offer once they give you their initial offer. Do not settle for what they are trying to tell you that you deserve.
Ask The Adjuster To Justify A Low Offer
If your insurance adjuster makes you a low offer, ask them to justify it. Typically they sent a low offer as a negotiating tactic. They want to see if you know what your claim is really worth so they are testing you. So, ask them why the offer is so low and actively take notes when they give you their answers. Depending on the reasons they give, you might have to lower your value slightly. You don’t want to do any drastic changes as they will always go for your lowest ask.
Do Not Take The First Offer
It is so important to not fall into their trap and take the first offer. They will try to make it sound so good for your situation and that you don’t deserve any more than that. Do not fall for it. They will give you a low offer to see how you will react. They want to know how far you are willing to go to fight for the offer you want. Always be respectful and reasonable with your counteroffers. The more respectful you are, the better chance you have of getting an offer that you want. Eventually, they will be able to see that you are willing to compromise and they should make you a more reasonable offer.
Discuss Emotional Painpoints
When you are negotiating for a higher offer, make sure you talk to your insurance adjuster about the emotional side of your accident. For example, you can highlight that you suffered painful injuries from the accident and you have very expensive medical costs to take care of. If you suffered any long-term or permanent physical effects from the accident you will want to talk about them with your adjuster.
You will also want to talk about any damage that was done to your vehicle. Send them strong photos of your smashed car or the destroyed parts of your car. Additionally, if the accident affected your ability to work or take care of kids you will want to mention that as well. You can also inform them of any emotional distress that your kids have to go through as a result of the accident. Any of these aspects will help you fight for the compensation that you deserve.
Get the Settlement In Writing
When you and your insurance adjuster finally reach an agreement you will want to get the settlement in writing. Make sure you do this immediately so nothing changes. Words mean nothing in this case. Always make sure to get the final settlement in writing. It can be a very simple message stating the amount you settled for, the injuries and damages that occurred during the accident, and the date that you expect to receive the money.
Make sure that you highlight a date that you expect to receive the settlement from the insurance company. This forces them to agree to a timeframe and give you the compensation in a timely fashion. If you document a date and they don’t get you the settlement by that date, then you at least have proof and can take it to a lawyer.
Summary: How To Negotiate The Best Settlement With Car Insurance Adjusters
Car accidents can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming. There are a lot of different emotions going on when an accident occurs. Make sure you don’t say too much at the scene or even a few days later when talking to an insurance adjuster. You want to collect all of your thoughts and formulate a settlement before you speak to any insurance adjuster. They will hold anything you say against you so be very intentional about what you say.
Always make sure that you have a counter offer prepared. Understand that your insurance adjuster will come back with a low offer. They want to see how much you know about the value of your car and your settlement. Always make sure you have a reasonable number prepared to give them a quick counter offer. Be respectful and act professionally. They will be more willing to work with you when you are very respectful to them. Lastly, stay calm and collected, and don’t show off your stress levels to your insurance adjuster.
Not sure how to negotiate with a car insurance adjuster? Keep reading to determine the in’s and out’s of dealing with a car insurance adjuster and how to receive the compensation you deserve.