If you have been involved in an accident, you probably have to deal with an auto insurance adjuster. Typically, you have to at least give a statement to your own insurance company after the accident, but you should never give a statement (recorded or otherwise) to the other party's insurance adjuster. The at-fault driver's insurance adjuster wants your recorded statement so that you will say things that will harm your case.  They can use it later to refute injuries that worsened or became more symptomatic in the days or weeks after the accident.  The adjuster will try to get the statement as soon as possible after the accident, before you have had a chance to get a full diagnosis of your injuries. Many people are nearly euphoric with relief after a bad accident in which they did not suffer disabling injuries or death.  However, a sore back or "cervical sprain and strain" could actually be symptomatic of a more severe underlying condition that would often not be diagnosed at the ER.  X-rays will show mostly just boney injury (such as fractures) whereas soft tissue injuries that are more severe may not show at all until an MRI is done.  MRI scans are rarely ordered in the ER barring extremely severe symptoms so you may not get a referral for an MRI for several months, after physical therapy and medicines are not proving to be helpful.  At that point your doctor will be less concerned about a denial of payment for an "unneccessary" scan which can be quite expensive.  Your doctor knows the protocol for reasonable time frames to order such scans.  Conservative treatment must usually be used and fail before the step of ordering an MRI is considered appropriate.

At Worthington Law Group, we know how auto insurance adjusters are trained and how they operate. We have the negotiation skills to handle them. We know from experience that when clients have tried to do so on their own, they are often intimidated or manipulated. Contact our office at 215-576-5150 to learn how we can help you if you have been involved in an accident in PA and must deal with an auto insurance adjuster.

The Role of Auto Insurance Adjusters in Auto Accidents

Auto insurance adjusters play an important role after a car accident, so you should know just who they are and how they operate. In short, adjusters are employees of insurance companies whose main job is to investigate accidents and determine what the liability of the insurance company is. The loyalty of the insurance adjuster lies with the company, not with you. One of the ways that insurance companies make money is by paying out as little as they are legally obligated to, and experienced auto insurance adjusters know how to do this.

Tactics Used by PA Auto Insurance Adjusters

Becoming familiar with the tactics that auto insurance adjusters use while evaluating claims is the best way to avoid falling prey to them. While not an exhaustive list, a few of the more common tactics include the following:

Look for Inconsistencies

As previously described, an insurance adjuster could ask for a very thorough recorded statement from you, which they will then meticulously comb through, looking for any details that suggest an inconsistency in your story, which subsequently might represent an "out" for the insurance company. For example, you might tell an adjuster that you only injured your arm in a crash, but later you find out you also sustained a concussion.  Perhaps you were aware you hit your head but did not know the ER doctor diagnosed you with a concussion or advised you to follow up after the ER with a neurologist to determine if you suffered a concussion.  The adjuster may then turn around and use this information to suggest that a different event caused your injuries as opposed to the accident.

Delay the Process or Avoid Contact

Depending on the case, some adjusters might attempt to delay the case as long as they can, hoping that you will begin to feel the pressure of unpaid bills piling up. The thought is that if your bills start piling up, you'll become desperate and willing to accept whatever offer they throw at you. In these instances, stand firm and make sure your providers are sending your bills to the correct insurance company with the correct claim number and all contact information for the medical adjuster. In my experience as a lawyer of many years, clients are very concerned about the possibility of unpaid medical bills and destroyed credit ratings.  An experienced, effective personal injury lawyer will help you to avoid the stress and anxiety over your medical bills and make sure appropriate bills are paid in a timely fashion.

Encourage a Rapid Settlement

Adjusters may try to pressure to settle quickly in certain cases. This strategy might be used if the adjuster feels that you don't understand the full value of your claim, or that further investigation into it will uncover more damages that the insurance company could be liable for.  Remember that insurance companies are all about "the money".  Adjusters will often try to rush you before you have a complete concept of the extent of your injuries and the treatment required to heal them.  Having the right attorney in your corner can ensure that you are taken care of in every situation.

How Can a PA Personal Injury Lawyer Help?

For most accident victims, the world of personal injury law can be a new and scary place. Hiring the right attorney can help.

An experienced attorney from Worthington Law Group will be able to properly value your claim to ensure that you don't accept a fast settlement offer and leave money on the table. We are familiar with the applicable laws in your case, which means that we can advise you on what insurance adjusters can and can't do. Ultimately, we will work with you and your family to make sure that you get the best settlement offer possible while handling all of the difficult negotiations. 

Personal injury lawyers can help in non-auto accident cases, too. Insurance adjusters are involved in all types of personal injury cases, like:

• Dog bites and attacks
• Slip and fall accidents
• Product liability

Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Montgomery County Today

Auto insurance adjusters are trained well. They have their employer's best interests as their priority, not your interests. Attorney Sandra Worthington knows a lot about this because she worked for a family owned claims adjustment company and a huge insurance company before becoming an attorney. Even if the auto insurance adjuster has opened your claim, they still want to minimize or avoid a settlement payout.  

To make sure you get the compensation you deserve, you need to know how to handle auto insurance adjusters. At Worthington Law Group, our auto accident attorney has the experience and skill. Contact us today online or at 215-576-5150 to schedule a Free, No-Strings-Attached Consultation On Your Accident Case.