Insurance adjuster

What does an adjuster do?

An adjuster investigates a claim, evaluates liability and damages, and determines what the insurer will offer to resolve it.

They obtain the police report, review medical records, take statements and inspect vehicle damage. Much of this is routine and legitimate claim handling.

They are professionals doing a job for their employer. Most are courteous and many are genuinely helpful on the parts of a claim that are not disputed.

None of that changes who they work for, which is the point worth holding onto.

They are the person most injured people deal with directly, often before speaking to any attorney.

What should you expect?

Certain requests arrive early and are worth thinking about before responding.

None of these requests is improper in itself. What matters is understanding what each one is for.

• A request for a recorded statement, usually within days
• A broad medical authorization covering your full history
• Questions about prior injuries and prior claims
• An early settlement offer before treatment is complete
• Requests for updates on your treatment and activities
• Possible surveillance, which is lawful and more common than expected

Why does the early offer arrive so quickly?

Because a claim is cheapest to resolve before anyone knows how serious the injury is. An offer made two weeks after a crash is priced against two weeks of bills.

Accepting it means signing a release that ends the claim permanently, including for treatment that has not yet happened.

That is why settling before maximum medical improvement is generally unwise, however welcome the money would be.

How should you handle contact?

Report the accident to your own insurer, which your policy requires, and provide the basic facts.

Be cautious with recorded statements to the other driver's carrier, since these are used to lock in an account before you know the extent of your injuries.

Broad medical authorizations open your entire history rather than the parts relevant to the claim, and narrowing them is reasonable.

Directing contact through an attorney once one is retained also removes the pressure of managing these conversations while recovering.

Common questions

Do I have to give a recorded statement?

Your own policy generally requires cooperation with your insurer. An obligation to the other driver's carrier is a different question worth raising with an attorney first.

Should I sign a medical authorization?

Broad authorizations open your entire history. Narrowing the scope to the body parts and time period at issue is a reasonable request.

Is the adjuster trying to trick me?

Most are simply doing their job. The job includes resolving claims economically, which is a different objective from yours.