Insurance adjusters have a responsibility to determine liability after a crash, with personal injuries and property damage often at stake. Researching the details of each claim is necessary to determine how much money to offer a claimant.
Police reports, damage inspection and firsthand accounts of a motor vehicle accident are all helpful in settling a claim. How you handle yourself during the process could also affect your case – though, not likely to your benefit.
Three approaches to maximizing compensation
Insurance settlements reduce the company’s bottom line. Therefore, your best interests may not factor into the compensation amount you are offered.
To increase your chances of receiving a favorable settlement:
- Take pictures of the accident scene, obvious injuries sustained by the individuals involved in the incident, noticeable vehicle damage and weather conditions during the time of the crash. Also, keep track of any medical records related to the care you or your passengers require.
- Adjusters can use what you say against you, so be cautious about being overly open during discussions. Do not admit any fault, make excuses for what happened or say you are okay.
- The settlement offer you receive might not meet your needs. It may not be fair, either. Exploring your options before you agree to terms is an important step in moving forward from a tragedy.
The total expense of a motor vehicle accident may take time to become clear. Rushing to agree to settlement terms could hurt you more in the long run than exercising some patience and resilience in handling your claim.
The adjuster assigned to your claim will inevitably do everything in their power to save the company money. Determining fault and the full amount of damage involved with an accident, however, can help you protect yourself through the pursuit of favorable results.