Get counsel before talking to insurance adjustor

In my previous post, I wrote about why you should have a lawyer represent you in an injury case. The reason is quite simple: a lawyer can probably help you recover more money from an insurance company than you can on your own.

I cited an example of a person who I helped recover 10 times more money than originally offered by the insurance company. We were lucky that it turned out that way, because, before the person hired me, the insurance company had unlimited access to the person and could have gathered information directly from the person that could have damaged the case.

How could this be? When a person is unrepresented, the insurance adjuster can call the person and ask for unlimited information. In some instances, this constant calling looks like harassment. The adjuster is trying to get as much information as possible to investigate the case and gather data for the file so the company can defend the case.

When a client hires me, I don’t allow the adjuster to talk to my client unless I am present for the interview. Even then, I control and limit the questioning. This way, the client will not inadvertently — and often mistakenly — give information the adjuster can use to defend the case.

A simple example: an adjuster asks how you are doing. A polite response from you would be, “I’m fine.”

If you answer this way, you’ve just told the adjuster there is nothing wrong with you, even though you may be hurt! When I am present for the interview, adjusters don’t ask that question, because they know that I know it’s a trick question.

I can think of dozens of examples I’ve heard of where adjusters ask seemingly harmless questions and use the innocent answers to deprive injured people of being fairly compensated for legitimate injuries. If you want to stay safe and protect your injury claim, get counsel before you talk to an insurance adjuster.

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