After a car accident in Summerville, an insurance adjuster will likely contact you. While their cooperation may seem helpful, they are not focused on your best interests. If you want to receive fair compensation for your injuries and damages, you’ll need to know how to deal with insurance adjusters after a car accident.
Insurance adjusters work for insurance companies—not for you. Their primary goal is to minimize what the insurance company pays out on your claim. Knowing how to interact with adjusters and when to involve legal representation makes a significant difference in your case. Understanding the tactics of insurance companies is essential to protecting your rights.
Why Insurance Adjusters Contact You After a Crash
Insurance adjusters are claims investigators employed by insurance companies to investigate and process claims. They evaluate accident claims when you file or when the other driver’s insurance company learns about the accident. An adjuster typically contacts you within days of an incident.
The adjuster investigates the accident and assesses liability. They evaluate your injuries and damages. They determine how much the insurance company should pay. However, their loyalty is to the insurance company, not to you. They’re trained to gather information that reduces or denies your car accident claim.
Insurance companies send adjusters to accidents for several reasons:
- Establish a timeline of events
- Document the accident scene and vehicle damage
- Interview witnesses
- Obtain medical records and treatment information
- Build a case that minimizes the company’s financial exposure
Understanding this dynamic helps you protect yourself during these interactions. This is why consulting with a Summerville car accident attorney early in the process is critical.
What You Should Never Tell an Insurance Adjuster
One of the most critical mistakes accident victims make is providing too much information to adjusters. Anything you say can work against you. Adjusters may use your words to reduce your claim value or deny it entirely.
Recorded Statements
Never provide a recorded statement. Adjusters will often ask to record your statement about the accident. This is one of the biggest traps. Recorded statements lock you into a version of events. Adjusters can use these statements against you later, especially if your recollection improves. Always decline recorded statements. Inform the adjuster to contact your attorney if you decide to hire one.
Fault and Responsibility
Don’t discuss fault or admit any responsibility. Even if you think you might have been partially at fault, never say so to an adjuster. Statements like “I didn’t see the other car” or “I was going a little fast” can suggest you caused the accident.
South Carolina follows a comparative negligence standard. Your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault. Let an attorney determine fault based on evidence, not your initial statements. Understanding how comparative negligence affects settlements is crucial to your case strategy.
Beware Initial Settlement Offers
Don’t downplay your injuries or accept the first settlement offer. Insurance companies count on accident victims being eager to resolve claims quickly. Initial settlement offers are typically far below what your case is actually worth. Don’t accept any offer without consulting an attorney. Your injuries may worsen over time. You may not yet understand the full extent of your damages. Learn more about maximizing your personal injury settlement.
Medical Record Access
Don’t grant access to your medical records without review. Adjusters will request your complete medical history. Insurance companies use this information to find pre-existing conditions. They may attempt to blame these conditions for your current injuries.
They may also argue that your treatment was unnecessary. Have an attorney review any medical authorization forms before signing them to ensure they are accurate and complete. Understanding the impact of pre-existing conditions on car accident claims can help protect your recovery.
When to Sign Documents
Don’t sign any documents without understanding them. Insurance companies sometimes ask you to sign releases or settlement agreements. These documents can waive your right to future claims. They can limit your recovery. Never sign anything an adjuster presents without first having an attorney review it.
Common Tactics Insurance Adjusters Use in South Carolina
Insurance adjusters employ sophisticated tactics designed to minimize payouts. Recognizing these strategies helps you avoid their traps.
Pretending to Be on Your Side
Adjusters are trained to be friendly and sympathetic. They may say things like “I’m here to help you” or “Let’s work together to resolve this.” Don’t be fooled. Their job is to protect the insurance company’s interests, not yours. Maintain professional distance. Remember that anything you tell them can work against you.
Delaying the Claims Process
Insurance companies sometimes drag out investigations. They pressure you into accepting a lower settlement. If you’re struggling with medical bills and lost wages, you may feel forced to accept whatever offer comes your way. An attorney can push back against unreasonable delays. They ensure your claim moves forward. Learn about calculating lost wages to understand your full damages.
Disputing Medical Expenses and Treatment
Adjusters frequently challenge whether your medical treatment was necessary or reasonable. They may argue that you received too much treatment. They claim certain procedures weren’t needed. They suggest you should have recovered faster. Insurance companies hire their own medical experts to dispute your doctors’ recommendations. An attorney ensures your medical evidence is properly presented and defended. Understanding treatment costs and recovery helps you counter these arguments.
Suggesting You Don’t Need an Attorney
Adjusters often tell accident victims that hiring a lawyer will only reduce their recovery through attorney fees. This is misleading. While you do pay attorney fees, an experienced personal injury attorney typically recovers significantly more than you would on your own. The increased recovery often far exceeds the cost of legal representation. Studies show that attorney-represented claims recover substantially more than those that are unrepresented.
Conducting Surveillance
Conducting surveillance. In serious injury cases, insurance companies may hire investigators to follow you and film your activities. They’re looking for evidence that contradicts your injury claims. If you claim a back injury but are seen lifting heavy objects, the insurance company will use that footage against you. Be mindful of your activities and social media posts in the aftermath of an accident. This is especially important in traumatic brain injury cases and other serious injuries.
How to Respond to an Insurance Adjuster
If an insurance adjuster contacts you, you have the right to control how you communicate with them. Here’s how to handle the interaction professionally while protecting your interests.
Keep Interactions Brief and Professional
When an adjuster calls, you don’t need to have a lengthy conversation. You can simply say, “I’m not able to discuss this right now” or “Please send your questions in writing.” Short, limited responses reduce the chance of saying something that works against you.
Provide Only Basic Information
If you do speak with an adjuster, limit your responses to basic facts:
- Your name
- Policy number
- The date and location of the accident
- The names of other parties involved
Don’t Elaborate or Provide Unnecessary Details
Avoid detailed explanations of the accident or injuries. The adjuster will want you to describe exactly what happened and how you were injured. Resist the urge to provide a detailed narrative. Your memory may be incomplete immediately after an accident. Detailed statements can work against you later. This is why having a lawyer handle communications from the start is so important.
Request All Communication in Writing
Ask the adjuster to send questions and requests in writing rather than conducting phone conversations. Written communication creates a record of what was discussed. It prevents misunderstandings about what you intended to say.
Document All Interactions
Document every interaction with the adjuster. Keep a record of all communications:
- Dates and times
- Names of adjusters you spoke with
- Summaries of what was discussed
This documentation can be valuable if disputes arise later about what was said. Understanding how to take accident scene photos and document evidence is part of building a strong case.
The Importance of Having Legal Representation
Hiring a personal injury attorney is one of the most important decisions you can make after a car accident. An attorney protects your interests against insurance companies and their adjusters.
Attorneys Handle the Communication
An attorney handles all adjuster communications from day one. You won’t have to worry about saying something that damages your claim. Your lawyer knows the tactics adjusters use and how to counter them. They understand South Carolina personal injury law and how it applies to your situation.
Attorneys understand insurance company tactics and South Carolina law. This knowledge allows them to negotiate effectively. They know what your case is worth based on comparable cases, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Insurance companies take attorney-represented claims more seriously. They know the attorney will pursue the claim aggressively if necessary. Understanding how car accident settlements work helps you understand the negotiation process.
Protect Your Right to Compensation
Legal representation protects your right to full compensation. Adjusters often try to settle claims for far less than they’re worth. An attorney ensures you understand your rights. They help you avoid accepting inadequate offers. If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, your attorney can file a lawsuit and take the case to trial. Learn about what to expect when filing a car accident lawsuit.
Maximizing Your Potential Settlement
Having counsel often results in significantly higher settlements. Studies show that accident victims represented by attorneys recover substantially more than those who handle claims alone. The increased recovery typically far exceeds the cost of attorney fees. Legal representation is a financially sound decision.
Steps to Take Immediately After Your Crash
Taking the right steps immediately after your accident can help protect your health. It preserves evidence and strengthens your claim.
Call 911
Call 911 and obtain a police report number. Always call the police after an accident, even if the injuries seem minor. The police report documents the accident. It may include the officer’s assessment of fault. Get the report number so you can obtain a copy later. This official documentation is valuable evidence in your claim. Understanding how to read an accident report helps you identify important details.
Seek Medical Attention
Seek medical attention and document all injuries. Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, see a doctor. Some injuries, like whiplash or internal injuries, don’t show symptoms right away. Medical records create an official record linking your injuries to the accident. Keep all medical documentation, including doctor’s notes, test results, and treatment records. Learn about dealing with delayed injuries after a car accident.
Take Photos
Take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and injuries. Photographs are powerful evidence. Take pictures of:
- Vehicle damage
- The accident scene
- Road conditions
- Traffic signals
- Any visible injuries
These photos preserve evidence that may change or disappear over time. Surveillance footage and photos are critical evidence in settlement negotiations.
Get Witness Information
Gather contact information from witnesses. Get names, phone numbers, and addresses from anyone who saw the accident. Witness statements can be crucial in establishing what happened. They’re especially important if liability is disputed. Learn about questions to ask car accident witnesses.
Get Legal Representation
Contact a car accident attorney before speaking with adjusters. Before you talk to any insurance adjuster, consult with a personal injury attorney. An attorney can advise you on what to say and what to avoid. If you hire an attorney, they’ll handle all communications with adjusters. This protects you from making costly mistakes.
How Crantford Meehan Protects Your Rights Against Insurance Companies
At Crantford Meehan, we understand how insurance companies operate. We know how to stand up to their tactics. Our attorneys have experience handling car accident claims in Summerville and throughout the state of South Carolina.
We Handle the Communication
Our attorneys handle all communications with adjusters from day one. You won’t have to worry about saying something that damages your claim. We know what adjusters are looking for. We provide information strategically while protecting your interests.
We Do the Documentation
We develop strong cases with thorough documentation. We investigate accidents thoroughly. We gather evidence and interview witnesses. We work with medical experts to document your injuries and damages. This approach builds a compelling case that supports your claim for full compensation. Our team uses accident reconstruction experts to strengthen complex cases.
Our Team Negotiates for You
We negotiate aggressively for fair compensation. Insurance companies know that Crantford Meehan attorneys don’t accept lowball offers. We understand what your case is worth. We fight for the compensation you deserve. We’ve recovered millions for accident victims in Summerville and the surrounding areas. View our case results and settlements.
Take Your Case to Trial
We’re prepared to take cases to trial if necessary. While most cases settle, we’re always ready to take your case before a jury. If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we’ll litigate. Our trial experience gives us credibility in settlement negotiations. Adjusters know we’ll follow through on our threat to litigate.
You Don’t Pay Unless You Win
We work on contingency—no fees unless we recover for you. You don’t pay attorney fees up front. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. This happens either through settlement or trial verdict. This arrangement aligns our interests with yours. We succeed when you succeed. Just take a look at our client testimonials and case results.
Contact Crantford Meehan for Your Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Summerville, don’t face insurance adjusters alone. Contact Crantford Meehan or call (843) 832-1120 today for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.
Our Office
Our Summerville office is located at 136 W Richardson Ave, Summerville, SC 29483. We’re available 24/7 to help accident victims protect their rights. We work to recover the compensation to which they are entitled.
Our Lawyers
William C. Crantford and Jerry A. Meehan Jr. are both Trial Lawyers College graduates. They have experience in personal injury litigation. They’ve recovered millions for clients injured in car accidents and other incidents. Both attorneys are AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, recognizing their legal ability and ethical standards.
Don’t let insurance adjusters pressure you into accepting less than you’re entitled to. Let Crantford Meehan fight for your rights and work toward your recovery.
