Anyone who is injured in an accident is likely to end up working with an insurance adjuster during the claims process. Too often, we find that individuals assume that the insurance adjuster is an unbiased third party who is there to get to the truth. The unfortunate truth is that they work for the insurance company and even if it is your insurance company, they are not there to give you maximum payouts – they are there to make money.
Read on to find out what an insurance adjuster does and how they may be involved in your case. If you are interested in getting the settlement you deserve then we recommend contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for your free legal consultation.
The role of an insurance adjuster
They are assigned in accidents to investigate both the facts and evidence. After their findings are in, they will determine how much they think a case is worth. However, they do so as an employee of the insurance company. Their main goal is to find weaknesses in a case to try and get the settlement as low as possible so that the insurance company is profitable.
The goal of an insurance adjuster
In addition to wanting to settle a personal injury claim for as little as possible, the adjuster is also working to avoid a lawsuit. If the case cannot be settled out of court then it’s likely that you will file a personal injury lawsuit. At that point, a third-party judge and jury will be deciding what is appropriate – and this is risky for the insurance company.
How your adjuster decides what your case is worth
In most cases, an insurance adjuster is going to set a maximum dollar figure they are willing to pay for an accident and will begin by offering the injured part between one-fourth and one-half that amount. This gives them room for negotiation. It also means that you should never take the first offer from an insurance company.
When they come up with that maximum dollar figure, they are going to use the metrics that would also be used by a jury if it went to trial. This will generally include current and future medical costs, lost income, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and suffering.
You need a personal injury attorney who knows what your case is worth
Insurance adjusters can be convincing. They often make the injured party believe that they are deserve less than they do. This is why you need a personal injury attorney on your side. To find out more about how we can help you with your case, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
