10 Questions Insurance Adjusters Don’t Want You to Ask

January 29, 2021

If you are in a car accident, you will need to work closely with your insurance company, as well as the other drivers, to get the necessary repairs done on your vehicle. This often includes communication with the insurance adjuster, whose job it is to inspect the damage and decide how much the insurance company owes you.

Here are a few great questions to ask the insurance adjuster:

1. What are the policy limits? Understanding the policy limits can help you evaluate the fairness of an offer that you might receive. You have a right to negotiate an amount and knowing what the policy limits are a good way to have an upper hand when negotiating. They may be open with this information or hesitate to tell you.

2. What is your position? While the insurance adjuster’s job is to inspect the vehicle’s damage and calculate your damages, you will find that insurance adjusters have a wide range of authority among providers. By knowing how long they have been with the company, you can gauge how much room there might be for negotiations.

3. Have you seen this type of case before? Learning more about the insurance adjuster’s experience with specific types of cases can help you evaluate how much of an offer you can expect to receive.

4. Have you had to go to trial often? This question not only allows you to gather even more information about the insurance adjuster’s experience but also their intentions of taking the case to trial. Do they often take people who don’t agree with an offer to trial? You are also letting them know that if they offer you a lowball amount, you are willing to go to trial.

5. What happens if I don’t agree with the offer? It is always a good idea to find out what happens if you don’t agree with an offer. Will you be transferred to their supervisor? Will they immediately take you to court?

6. How did you come up with that offer? It is also helpful to find out how an insurance adjuster comes up with their offer. This can be valuable information if you believe that you got a low-ball offer. It is possible they are forgetting to include something, so it is helpful to have a list of all included costs.

7. Are you willing to go to court? This not only demonstrates that you are willing to take legal action if they don’t provide you with a fair value, but it also gives you more insight into the process to expect.

8. How do you decide who is at fault? This is a good question to gather more information on who is at fault. Find out how much they believe their insured driver might be responsible for the accident.

9. Are you familiar with my type of injury? This can also help you gather information on how much research they are doing in regards to your medical bills.

10. Do you know the effect the accident has had on my life? By pointing out the emotional aspects and implications of the accident, you are reminding the insurance adjuster that you are not willing to take a low offer. They may assume that your medical bills are low, or that you are able to immediately return to work.

If you are dealing with an insurance adjuster, it can be helpful to reach out to a lawyer. Contact a New Jersey car accident lawyer today.

Contact an Edison Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Hoyt & Hoyt, PC represent clients injured because of a car accident in Edison, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Montville, and throughout New Jersey. Call (973) 292-2299 or email us to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 67 East Park Place, 5th Floor, Morristown, NJ 07960, as well as an office in New Brunswick, NJ.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.