After a motor vehicle accident in Mississippi, particularly a serious one, a driver is likely to interact with an insurance adjuster. To avoid undermining their claim, drivers may consider only volunteering specific information and avoiding certain statements, such as admitting fault, making speculations concerning the incident, and agreeing to accept an initial settlement, when engaging with a claims adjuster. Learn what to say and what not to say during an insurance adjuster negotiation, explore some car accident claim tips, and find out how a Mississippi car accident attorney from Lott Law can help auto accident victims with their insurance claims; call our legal team at (228) 215-2787 for assistance with obtaining an insurance settlement.
What Should I Not Tell Insurance?
Saying certain things to a claims adjuster may lead to a reduced payout or, possibly, a claim denial. With this in mind, here is what not to say to insurance adjusters.
Do Not Admit Fault
Probably the most important thing not to say to a claims adjuster is any statement they could interpret as admitting fault. Proving fault is one of an adjuster’s key goals and is necessary to award appropriate compensation, and if a motorist inadvertently takes the blame for the incident, they might experience an outright claim denial or a drastic reduction in compensation.
Mississippi has a comparative negligence framework, and per the State of Mississippi Judiciary, a partially at-fault party is likely to receive reduced compensation in line with their fault percentage. While this typically applies to lawsuits, insurers base claim decisions on what is likely to occur in court. So, even if a motorist’s statement partially blames them for causing the accident, an adjuster may use this to offer a reduced settlement offer.
Do Not Downplay or Discuss Injuries
Downplaying injuries, including saying that the motorist is fine, does not need to visit a doctor, or does not have serious injuries, may lead to lower offered settlements. And, if the person claims they have no substantial injuries, but then their injuries worsen, the insurer may claim that the motorist is being untruthful about their worsened condition because of their prior statement. Due to many auto accident injuries not becoming fully apparent until much later, discussing or downplaying injuries with an adjuster post-accident is unwise.
Avoid Speculations
When outlining what happened during a motor vehicle accident to a claims adjuster, motorists may want to avoid saying anything other than what they directly experienced. This means not making speculations concerning the incident since this could lead to the claimant unintentionally blaming themself, giving insurers a valid excuse to deny compensation. Remember that if a claimant is not sure about a specific element of the case, they can simply say this to the adjuster.
Refuse To Give Recorded Statements
Claimants who agree to allow adjusters to record their statement risk mistakenly sharing information that they cannot retract, potentially harming their claim. A safer approach is to insist on providing a written statement, as this gives claimants greater control regarding what they say to the claims adjuster. Furthermore, if the claimant has an attorney, they can ask them to check the statement before submitting it to ensure it does not contain details that can negatively impact their case.
Find out more about how to handle an insurance adjuster negotiation, gain some additional car accident claim tips, and learn how an experienced Mississippi auto accident attorney may assist motor vehicle collision victims with their legal concerns. Contact Lott Law today to book a preliminary discussion.
How To Handle an Insurance Adjuster Negotiation
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, insurance adjusters are responsible for evaluating insurance claims, and part of their role involves taking statements, speaking to witnesses, assessing injuries and vehicle damage, and reviewing evidence such as police reports. Often, these can be tough and nerve-racking interactions, but claimants can ensure they run smoothly by following these tips.
Provide Limited Personal Information
Sharing information with an insurance adjuster about a claimant’s personal life is optional and unnecessary since these details may give them reasons to refuse a claim at a later date. Avoid discussing hobbies, income, work duties and schedules, and daily activities; the only required personal information is the claimant’s name, phone number, and address.
Consider Initial Offers Carefully
A common tactic by insurance carriers is to submit a lowball settlement offer initially. While they might appear enticing, such offers are usually far lower than what a driver could receive for their claim. Rather than accepting, the recommended approach is to use the initial offer as the starting point for further negotiations with the claims adjuster.
What Are Some Car Accident Claim Tips?
Overly explaining what happened during the accident and making online posts can potentially harm an insurance claim. Below explains why this is the case.
Avoid Discussing the Accident
Try not to volunteer unnecessary details regarding the motor vehicle accident to claims adjusters or other parties involved in the insurance claim. Instead, focus on providing evidence, such as eyewitness statements, photos, accident reports, and video surveillance, and let these parties discern what happened from this information. Going into too much detail may allow an insurance adjuster to spot inconsistencies with a claimant’s story, which they can use to challenge a claim’s validity and offer a settlement below the claim’s actual value.
Stay Clear of Social Media
Insurance adjusters may check a claimant’s social media accounts to find out more about the incident. If they learn information that contradicts what the claimant shared with them via online accounts, this can jeopardize a claim.
Learn More by Contacting a Knowledgeable Mississippi Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney
Worth remembering is that insurance adjusters represent a profit-making enterprise in the form of an insurance company, whereby they aim to minimize payouts and maximize profits via insurance premiums. An effective method of handling an insurance adjuster negotiation involves hiring an attorney with experience in these matters to deal with these interactions on the motorist’s behalf. Discover more about what to say and avoid saying to claims adjusters, learn some extra car accident claim tips, and consider speaking to a seasoned Mississippi motor vehicle accident attorney for assistance with overseeing insurance and legal claims; reach out to Lott Law today by calling (228) 215-2787.