When it comes to your insurance, it's important to understand what's involved, and who you'll need to converse with about your policy concerns. If you're a policy holder, you'll need to cooperate with the insurance company for your legal protection. If you're involved in an accident, the insurance company will need to speak with you, the other party, the police, and any other people who can provide information.

Ultimately, the insurance adjuster's job is to settle claims. The more they settle quickly, the better they do their job. With that in mind, who is an insurance adjuster, and what should you know about the role?

What is the Role of an Insurance Adjuster?

An insurance adjuster is the insured person's point of contact and the one who examines claims on behalf of the insurance company. An adjuster's job might involve examining and evaluating the claims. In some cases, they’ll communicate with the policy holder. An adjuster might also speak to witnesses, investigators, and the other insurance company.

In some cases, the adjuster might talk to the parties involved in the accident. This is to determine liability. As much as an insurance adjuster might want to quickly settle a claim, they cannot do so until they know what happened.

An insurance adjuster's role is to investigate claims made on behalf of the insurance company, so they're committed to doing their due diligence and ensuring there are no errors or fraudulent nature made to the claims. As for the insurance adjuster's bottom line, they're essentially responsible for deciding how much the insurance company should pay.

Seeing as the insurance adjuster determines the estimates for the insurance company, it's only natural to ask what every insured person is concerned about: do insurance adjusters lie?

Do Insurance Adjusters Lie to Maximize their Profits?

Some insurance companies have a reputation for their adjusters lying to the policy holders. The reason for this is that they're trying to lower their expenses where they can, so they can maintain their profit margin. After all, isn't the purpose of the adjuster's job to maximize profits for the insurance company?

But what if the insurance adjuster asks for information that isn't needed to settle your claim? This is because they may ask for unnecessary information in order to lower the payout. This can include the cost of property damage, or the cost of medical bills, which ultimately lowers the payout.

It’s difficult to know for sure if insurance adjusters lie, but it's worth looking at the reasons why an adjuster might act the way they do, and why an insurance company would place their trust in them.

What are the Common Strategies Insurance Adjusters Use to Reduce the Value of Your Claims?

To help protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve, it's worth exploring the possible strategies insurance adjusters use to settle your claims, so you can move forward with greater caution and awareness when talking to them.

1. Make Delays in an Attempt to Push You to Accept a Low Settlement

Even the most patient policyholders will admit that the process of settling a claim is frustrating. As you can imagine, frustrating doesn't begin to describe the situation when the insurance company keeps making excuses for the delay.

They'll make the excuse that the adjuster is out of the office, and they'll promise to contact you later that week, or they'll promise to answer your questions within 48 hours. However, when the 48hours pass, you're left on hold and no one gets back to you.

Even when you do speak to your adjuster, they'll put you in touch with other people who will also put you on hold (or worse, tell you to call back later). Some people say this is done to push the policy holder to accept a lower payout. If the policyholder continues to make claims, the insurance company will eventually just give up.

2. They Request Your Side of the Story through Recorded Statements

Insurance adjusters may record your statement over the phone and ask you to retell your side of the story. In some cases, an adjuster may attempt to record the conversation without letting you know. If you have anything to say that could compromise your position, later on, you'll be giving up information you might not want to.

If an adjuster asks you to make a recorded statement, they're going to record it, and use it against you. You might think this is alright when you’re not aware of the situation, but if you make a statement that is later used against you, you could be in for a big surprise.

3. Asks You to Sign Medical Authorization Forms

During the insurance claims process, an adjuster will almost always require a medical authorization form (also referred to as a medical release). This is a form where you have to provide permission for your doctor to release your medical records.

This is an important form, but the problem is that it’s usually not done in a professional manner. You don’t want to sign a medical authorization form when you don’t know what it is. It’s also not worth signing a medical authorization form that gives the insurance adjuster access to your medical records.

An insurance adjuster might not even inform you when they get your records, which can leave you in a difficult position. If there is no information to report, the insurance adjuster can't use it against you.

4. Monitor Social Media Activity and Use Your Posts Out of Context

The Internet is a powerful tool, and people say some pretty weird and wonderful things online. When people express their opinions on a website, in a forum, or on social media, their views could likely be misinterpreted.

When an adjuster monitors your social media activity, the purpose is to find incriminating information about you. They want details about prior accidents and offenses. They also want information about your friends, family, and any potential witnesses. Statements made on social media can be taken out of context and used against you.

The Bottom Line: The Importance of Working with a Lawyer Who Can Help Pursue the Compensation You Deserve

If you feel like you’re being treated unfairly during a claim, there is a possibility that you won’t be compensated for everything you deserve. While some cases are more complicated than others, an insurance adjuster typically should handle your claim fairly.

If you’re not getting the professional service you deserve, it’s worth considering speaking with an experienced legal professional who can fight for you. At Mendez & Sanchez Law, we have a history of fighting for our clients, and we use our legal knowledge to help you get the compensation you need.

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