What should I say and not say to the insurance adjuster after an accident?
Kyle Moore's Answer
Quick Answer
Be cautious when speaking to insurance adjusters; they represent the insurance company and may not disclose all your potential entitlements, so consult a lawyer before discussing your case.
Key risks of waiting too long
Potential Risk
Adjusters may push for quick settlements that undervalue your claim.
Potential Risk
Admitting to being okay can weaken your position.
Potential Risk
Uncertainty in your statements can be exploited for lower offers.
Potential Risk
Misunderstanding adjusters' roles could damage your case.
Full Transcript
Below is an AI-generated transcript of the video answer.
The first thing I think you should remember
when you're talking to anyone from any insurance company
is that they owe duties of loyalty and fiduciary duties
to the carriers themselves.
They don't work for you,
they work for the insurance company.
Most adjusters have a duty to pay no more
than what's owed under the contract,
not a penny more, not a penny less.
What clients don't understand
is the value of what they're owed
and insurance adjusters are not allowed to tell you
all the things that you may be owed
because that would be in violation of their duties
to their companies and to their insureds.
So while some insurance contracts
may require you to give statements,
I would be very careful about saying things like I'm okay,
I'm fine, it's not that big a deal, or I don't know
because sometimes these uncertainties
can signal to the insurance company
that there's an easy out to get a quick settlement
for a lower value before you fully understand
what's wrong with you and they wouldn't be violating
any rules or any laws in doing so.
So it's important to talk to a lawyer
and be careful before you talk to insurance adjusters
about things like your injuries and damages
without fully understanding what their role is
and how that might affect your case.