Originally Published: March 14, 2018
The Short Answer
After an accident in Indiana, an insurance adjuster is assigned to investigate your accident claim, review the evidence, determine how much it’s worth, and settle it for as little as possible. They work for the insurance company—not for you. There are different types of adjusters, but their goal is always the same: close your claim quickly and cheaply. Understanding what adjusters do after an accident and how they operate is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your claim.
Key Takeaways
- Adjusters investigate your accident claim, assess its value, and settle it for the lowest amount the company can justify.
- Adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you, despite what they may tell you.
- Insurance adjusters go by several titles, including claims adjuster, claims specialist, claims representative, but their role is the same across companies.
- There are three types of adjusters: staff, independent, and public. In a personal injury claim, you’ll almost always be dealing with one who works for the insurance company.
- Accepting a settlement ends your claim permanently, even if new injuries surface later.
- You should speak with a personal injury attorney before giving any statements, signing any releases, or accepting any settlement offer.
Table of Contents
- Who Are Insurance Adjusters?
- What Is an Insurance Adjuster’s Role in Your Accident Claim?
- How Do Insurance Adjusters Determine Fault?
- What Happens After the Insurance Adjuster Completes Their Investigation?
- Does the Insurance Adjuster Work for Me?
- Can You Trust Your Insurance Adjuster?
- How To Deal with an Insurance Adjuster After an Accident
- Contact the Ken Nunn Law Office For Your Free Consultation Now!
- Related Articles & Info
Who Are Insurance Adjusters?
When you’re injured in a personal injury accident caused by another party, that party’s insurance company assigns an adjuster to your claim. This procedure is usually the same regardless of whether you’re injured in a car accident, by a defective product, or a fall. But what is an insurance adjuster, and what does the adjuster do?
Adjusters are known by several different names, such as a claims adjuster, insurance claims representative, claims specialist, and independent claims analyst. Regardless of the title, insurance adjusters usually process accident claims in a similar fashion, and their job duties are similar from company to company. Understanding the role of an insurance adjuster can help you avoid some pitfalls of dealing with the adjuster.
Types of Insurance Adjusters
Not all insurance adjusters have the same relationship to the insurance company. There are 3 main types you may encounter after an accident.
- Staff adjusters are employees of the insurance company. They handle claims directly for the insurer and are the most common type you’ll deal with after a car accident or personal injury claim.
- Independent adjusters are contractors hired by insurance companies to handle claims on their behalf. They’re usually hired during high-volume periods or in regions where the insurer lacks staff. They still represent the insurance company’s interests, not yours.
- Public adjusters are the one type who can work on behalf of a claimant rather than an insurer. However, public adjusters typically handle property damage claims—not personal injury claims. If you’ve been injured in an accident, a public adjuster isn’t a substitute for a personal injury attorney.
Regardless of which type is assigned to your claim, their goal is the same: investigate the claim and resolve it at the lowest cost to the insurance company.
What Is an Insurance Adjuster’s Role in Your Accident Claim?
The key role of an adjuster is to investigate the accident claim to determine if the company is liable under the insurance policy. If the insured was not at fault for the accident that caused your injury or the policy did not cover the cause of the injury, the adjuster takes the position that the company is not liable for your claim. When this is the case, you should receive a written denial of claim explaining the reason for denial.
If the claims adjuster determines that the insurance company is liable under the policy, he begins an investigation to determine the extent of liability and the value of the claim. To do this, the adjuster may take one or more of the following actions:
- Request a copy of the police report to review
- Inspect any property damage and obtain appraisals for repairs
- Interview the accident claimant, the insured, and any eyewitnesses
- Request a written or recorded statement from one or more parties
- Request copies of medical records for the claimant
Once the investigation is complete, the claims representative submits a report to the insurance provider outlining liability. The report also contains an explanation of damages and a recommendation of the value of the claim. If the insurance company reviews the report and agrees with the adjuster’s conclusion, the company may offer a settlement. You then decide whether to accept the settlement.
How Do Insurance Adjusters Determine Fault After an Accident?
Determining fault is one of the most consequential parts of an adjuster’s investigation—because fault directly determines whether the insurance company owes you anything at all.
Adjusters don’t make fault determinations based on your account alone. They pull together multiple sources of information to build a picture of what happened, including:
- The police report and any citations issued at the scene.
- Photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and surrounding area.
- Statements from the driver, claimant, and any witnesses.
- Traffic camera or surveillance footage when available.
- Physical damage patterns on the vehicles involved.
Once they’ve reviewed the evidence, the adjuster submits a fault recommendation to the insurance company. It’s worth knowing that Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning if you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, you cannot recover compensation at all. And if you’re found 50% or less at fault, they can still reduce what you can recover from a claim. A personal injury lawyer can help fight back against insurers who try to reduce your claim by arguing that you’re at fault.
What Happens After the Insurance Adjuster Completes Their Investigation?
Once the adjuster wraps up their investigation, one of two things typically happens. If they determined the company isn’t liable, you’ll receive a written denial of your claim. If they determine the company is liable, they’ll likely present a settlement offer.
Beware—Accepting a settlement brings an end to your claim. You can’t demand more money from the company, even if you discover additional injuries or damages you weren’t aware of when you signed the release and settlement. Therefore, it’s usually in your best interest to speak with one of our Indiana personal injury attorneys before you accept a settlement. It’s also wise to speak with an attorney before you provide any statements or sign any medical releases.
Does the Insurance Adjuster Work for Me?
No, the adjuster does not work for you, even though many adjusters tell claimants that they are “here for them” or they will “help them” get the money they need. Insurance adjusters work for the insurance provider. Their job is to settle accident claims quickly for the least amount of money possible. Insurance companies do not want to pay large settlements because paying out claims directly conflicts with their goal of maximizing profits.
Therefore, it can be risky to handle an insurance claim yourself. Insurance adjusters are trained professionals who use various tactics to reduce the value of your claim. You deserve to have a team of legal professionals on your side working in your best interests. We advise you to contact our office for a free consultation before agreeing to provide a written or recorded statement— and before signing any medical release.
Can You Trust Your Insurance Adjuster?
It’s a fair question, and the honest answer is: not entirely. Insurance adjusters aren’t bad people, but they are professionals working toward a goal that’s directly at odds with yours. Their job is to settle your claim quickly and for as little as possible. Yours is to recover fair compensation for everything you’ve lost.
Some of the tactics adjusters commonly use to reduce claim value include:
- Requesting a recorded statement early, before you understand your injuries, so that they can use your words against you later.
- Offering a fast settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known
- Downplaying the severity of your injuries or disputing the medical treatment you received
But the short version is this: you don’t have to navigate this alone. Having a personal injury attorney in your corner from the start means someone is watching for these tactics on your behalf—and fighting back when the adjuster’s offer doesn’t reflect what your case is actually worth.
How To Deal with an Insurance Adjuster After an Accident
Knowing how to handle contact with an adjuster can make a real difference in the outcome of your claim. Here are the most important things to keep in mind:
Be Careful What You Say
Adjusters are skilled at asking questions that seem routine but are designed to get you to minimize your injuries or accept partial fault. Stick to the basic facts. Avoid speculating about what happened or how you feel physically. This is especially important in the days right after the accident, when you may not yet know the full extent of your injuries.
Don’t Give a Recorded Statement Without Legal Advice
Adjusters may tell you a recorded statement is required to process your claim. In most cases, it isn’t. You have the right to consult an attorney before agreeing to one.
Don’t Sign a Medical Release Without Reviewing It First
A broad medical release can give the insurance company access to your entire medical history, not just records related to the accident. Which is far more than what they need. If they get access, they may use pre-existing conditions to argue your injuries weren’t caused by the crash.
Don’t Accept the First Offer
Initial settlement offers are rarely the insurer’s best offer. They are a starting point designed to close your claim quickly and cheaply.
The most effective thing you can do when dealing with an insurance adjuster is to have an attorney handle communications on your behalf. When adjusters know you have legal representation, the dynamic shifts. At the Ken Nunn Law Office, we deal with insurance adjusters every day so our clients don’t have to.
Contact the Ken Nunn Law Office For Your Free Consultation Now!
Insurance adjusters handle injury claims every day. Most claimants go through it once. That experience gap is exactly what insurance companies count on.
The attorneys at the Ken Nunn Law Office fight to make sure you aren’t pressured into a settlement that falls short of what your injuries are actually worth. We offer free consultations with no obligation, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
