One of the riskiest elements of the aftermath of a collision with a commercial truck is the prospect of interacting with the insurer. Big trucking companies have substantial insurance coverage, and their adjusters, while they may be friendly and sound concerned about your condition, are more concerned with protecting their employers’ profits. That’s why you need to be prepared when dealing with insurance adjusters after a truck accident in Mooresville.
Why Insurance Adjusters Contact You After a Truck Accident
Two standard steps to take after an accident include exchanging information with the other driver and calling your own insurance company to report the accident. This is how both drivers’ insurance companies obtain the information they need to contact the parties involved.
So, what does an insurance adjuster do? Their job is to gather information about a truck accident to determine whether to pay a claim and, if so, how much to pay. While this may seem like they’re doing a service for you and have your best interests in mind, the insurance company adjuster is not your friend. Rather, they’re trying to find ways to avoid paying you what you deserve.
Common Insurance Adjuster Tactics in Truck Accident Claims
To succeed in their mission of protecting their employers’ financial interests, insurance adjusters are trained to use specific tactics to get accident victims to give up their rights. Some typical insurance adjuster tactics after truck accidents include the following:
- Asking you to give a recorded statement
- Asking you to authorize the release of your medical records
- Tricking you into admitting responsibility for the accident
- Suggesting they can handle your claim and that you don’t need to get an attorney involved
- Offering an initial settlement soon after the accident, before you know the extent of your losses
All of these tactics are designed to get you to make the insurance adjuster’s task easier. They know you’re likely in pain and dealing with financial strain. Anything they can do to make you feel like they’re working to get you the help you need quickly is fair game, even if that means getting you to jeopardize your claim.
What to Do (and Avoid) When Speaking with an Adjuster
Needless to say, speaking with an insurance adjuster presents real risks to your claim and your recovery. If possible, avoid speaking to them altogether. Instead, get an attorney on your side right away who can file your truck accident insurance claim in Mooresville and manage communications with the insurance companies.
If you must speak with an insurance adjuster, avoid doing so at length. Stick to the basic facts concerning the date, time, and location of the accident. Don’t speculate on what caused the accident or whose fault it was. Let the adjuster know you’re working with an attorney or plan to do so, and that they should direct all questions and communications to your lawyer.
Speak With a Mooresville Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you got hurt in a collision with a truck, turn to the team at Schwaba Law Firm for the legal guidance and support you need. We know how to deal with insurance adjusters so you don’t have to, and we’ll prepare and file your commercial truck accident claim in NC while you concentrate on healing. Reach out right away to get started with a free case review.
