Do Insurance Adjusters Lie?

Following an accident, you likely have a lot on your plate. Between your injuries, pain, and endless medical bills, you already have enough to worry about before the intervention of the insurance company and its adjusters. 

What Does an Insurance Adjuster Do?

When you file a claim, an insurance adjuster will oversee it. An adjuster works for the insurance company to review the details of what happened, evaluate the validity of your injury claim, and determine how much, if anything, the insurer should pay out. They will communicate with you to determine how much compensation you deserve for your injuries. You might think this will be a straightforward process, and it should be. Unfortunately, many people have the opposite experience and realize that insurance adjusters told them lies that hurt their accident claims and their situations even more.

Insurance adjusters may seem like friendly people who can empathize with your losses. However, experienced personal injury attorneys know they are part of a business that often unfairly denies claims, uses various tricks to avoid liability, and blatantly tells lies to avoid paying out settlements to those who need them most.

To ensure you do not fall for these deceitful traps, we prepared this blog. In it, we will go over why these insurance companies lie, the most common lies adjusters use, and how a skilled personal injury attorney can help you take on these lies and fight for the compensation you deserve. Always have a trusted lawyer on your side from the start of the insurance claim process.

After an Accident, Can an Insurance Adjuster Lie to You?

Even though most people want to believe that the insurance company is there to help them in their time of need, especially after an accident, this is not necessarily how these companies work. Insurance companies, like other businesses, want to make a profit. As a result, the less money they pay you for your claim, the more they make. That is why most insurance adjusters will try to do anything they can to get your case denied, including lying.

For instance, an adjuster may tell you they cannot contact the other at-fault driver after an accident or that the other vehicle has no coverage when it does. These tactics are in place to get you less money than you deserve. Consequently, without an attorney fighting for your rights, you become an easy target for the insurance company, and they will try to get you to believe everything they say, whether this information is accurate or not.

Common Lies That the Insurance Adjusters May Use Against You

Although the insurance company can lie to you about numerous issues after an accident, here are some of the more common lies they may tell:

Lies Regarding Your Insurance Policy

Insurance companies often lie about your insurance policy, claiming that your coverage does not cover the specific accident. However, in many cases, this is not true.

These insurance adjusters lie about your policy because they hope they can get away with denying your claim without you looking further into what they are saying. Or, they may not have all the up-to-date information regarding your insurance plan, so their claims are simply wrong. Regardless of their reasons, it is important to read your insurance policy after an accident and reach out to a skilled personal injury attorney who can look at your agreement and verify what your policy does and does not cover.

Lies Regarding Recorded Statements and Whether You Need to Provide One

A recorded statement is one of the first things the insurance company will want to get from you. They hope that with this statement, they can get you on record saying something that can impact your claim or that they can twist it to make it seem like you were at fault for the accident.

For example, the insurance adjuster may ask you, “How are you doing today?” Even if you respond with a standard, “I’m doing okay,” they may use this statement to show that you are uninjured. However, you need to realize that you do not have to provide insurers with answers to these questions.

If the insurance company calls, tell them you do not consent to a recording. Better yet, tell the insurance company that your attorney will handle all future calls regarding the incident. This way, your lawyer can ensure that you do not say anything that can hurt your case.

Lies Regarding Release Forms

If the insurance company offers you any forms to sign, you are under no obligation to sign anything, including a release form that can provide your medical records to the insurance company. These medical release forms will often allow the insurance company to view your records, whether or not they are related to your claim.

However, by obtaining this information, they can use any of your medical histories to argue that the injury you sustained was not the result of the accident but was due to a pre-existing condition.

Most importantly, if these documents indicate “release,” they can release all claims for repairs and medical bills and waive your right to get compensation for the harm you sustained.

For these reasons, always ensure your lawyer reviews everything before you sign it.

Lies Regarding How Much Time You Have to Settle

As you recover from an accident, whether at home or the hospital, insurance companies use this time to strike. They know your head is not in the right place to discuss what happened.

That makes it an optimal time for them to visit you and start pressuring you to accept their meager settlement offer, knowing it will not cover all of your losses. However, if you settle, you cannot ask the insurance company for more money, even if you discover you will need ongoing treatments.

Consequently, if the insurance company claims you have a deadline to accept their settlement amount, tell them you are not ready to take their offer until you complete all of your medical treatments and speak to your lawyer.

Lies Regarding Your Injuries

Insurance companies will look for anything to show that your injuries are not that serious so that they can save money on your claim, especially if the doctor treating you recommends a costly treatment plan. As a result, if you notice pushback regarding your medical treatments from the insurance company, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Lies Regarding Accepting Liability

Insurance companies may claim to accept liability. However, this doesn’t mean the insurance company will not dispute any part of the claim. In reality, these companies can accept liability and still debate the extent of your injuries and damages and justify paying you less than you deserve.

Lies Regarding Your Damages

Another typical lie that many insurance companies love to tell is that you are not legally entitled to certain damages, such as pain and suffering or lost wages. However, a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer is the person you should listen to about what damages you can collect following an accident. These attorneys can review your case, determine if you have a viable suit, and tell you what damages you can pursue.

Lies Regarding Your Social Security Number

After an accident, an insurance company may ask you for your Social Security number, claiming they need it to issue you a payment. However, insurance companies do not need this private number to provide you with a settlement. Rather, they only want it so they can access your driving record and background and then try to use the information they find against you.

Lies Regarding Needing an Attorney

Insurance companies know that when you hire an attorney, their chance of manipulating you is gone. That is why one of the biggest lies they may tell you is that the services of an attorney will not help you in your claim. However, do not listen to them. Remember, these insurance adjusters do not have your best interests in mind, nor do they want to ensure that you understand all of your rights under the law.

For these reasons, if you suffered an injury in an accident, reach out to a skilled personal injury attorney as quickly as possible. These lawyers can protect you from the deceitful practices of the insurance company, handle all the discussions with them on your behalf, and fight for the fair amount of compensation you require.

Lies Regarding Contact Information of Your Friends and Family

In some cases, the insurance company may try to get information related to your family and friends, specifically their contact details. However, this information is unnecessary for a claim, and it will not help you by providing it to them. Instead, it can allow the insurance adjuster to harass those you love to obtain information they can use against you.

Other Games Insurance Adjusters Play in Personal Injury Cases

Insurance adjusters often try to lie to win a case and are also great at stalling and delaying a case’s progression. This is especially true when the insurance company suspects they may have to pay out a claim.

As a result, in these instances, the insurance company may:

• Hire adjusters and have them change numbers, creating confusion about where you need to send your documents.
• Switch out representatives numerous times and tell you the people you talked to before left.
• Keep asking you for further information, even though you provided them with everything you have, or ask for irrelevant or unattainable details.
• Pretend they did not receive your settlement agreement.
• Refuse to respond to your messages and phone calls in hopes of you running out of time to pursue a case because the statute of limitations has expired.

How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Protect You From an Insurance Adjuster’s Lies?

Following a car accident, you already have enough on your plate. The last thing you want to handle during this challenging time is the games the insurance company likes to play, which can prevent you from getting the money you need. 

Thankfully, when you retain an experienced personal injury attorney to take on your case, they can provide you with the legal services you need, so you will not be stuck handling these insurance companies on your own.

For instance, once retained, your attorney can:

• Go over your accident, evaluate your claim, and figure out if you have a viable case.
• Identify all the sources of liability and the insurance options you have to seek maximum compensation.
• Investigate the incident and secure the evidence needed to prove fault and damages.
• Calculate the value of your case based on the expenses you have already incurred and the costs you may yet face.
• Handle all the discussions and negotiations with the insurance adjuster to ensure they get you the fair settlement offer you require.
• Ensure that all court-required motions and paperwork are adequately prepared, filed in the proper jurisdiction, and submitted before time expires.
• Bring in the experts such as accident reconstructionists and doctors to substantiate your claim.
• Pursue a lawsuit if you did not receive a fair settlement offer, and go after the maximum damages you deserve.

Do not wait any longer to retain the legal help you need after an accident. Instead, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer today for a free consultation. This consultation is a no-obligation, no-cost call that allows you to ask the attorney legal questions and learn more about how these lawyers can fight on your behalf and go after the justice and financial recovery you deserve.