What should I tell my insurance adjuster?
Asked by: Prof. August Hintz | Last update: July 13, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (57 votes)
When speaking with an insurance adjuster, keep the conversation brief, strictly factual, and limited to basic information. Provide the time, date, and location of the incident, your contact details, and a description of the damage. Do not apologize, admit fault, guess about the facts, or give a recorded statement without consulting a lawyer.
What not to say to the insurance adjuster?
Avoid making statements like, “I'm fine,” “It's not that bad,” or “I don't really need to see a doctor.” Insurance adjusters rely on your early descriptions to judge how seriously you are hurt, and any language about your pain not being that bad can be used against you in the future.
What scares insurance adjusters?
Having an attorney on your side can be highly intimidating to insurance adjusters because it shows that you mean business and are willing to file a lawsuit if you do not receive the compensation you deserve.
What is the first thing on a claim that an adjuster should look for?
Documentation and Evidence
One of the first things an adjuster looks for is documentation. This includes photographs, receipts, repair estimates, police reports and other records supporting the claim.
What insurance adjusters won't tell you?
What they won't tell you is that their primary job is to save their company money—often at your expense. Insurance adjusters are not your advocates. They're trained professionals whose performance is measured by how much they save their company. Every dollar you don't receive is a dollar their employer keeps.
What do I say to my insurance adjuster?
How to outsmart an insurance adjuster?
Document Your Losses. Insurance claims are won and lost based on evidence. Keep records of your medical bills, your out-of-pocket losses and your lost wages. The more proof you have of your losses, the more likely you are to outsmart the insurance company's attempt to deny or lowball your claim.
What are signs of a good settlement offer?
Key Signs of a Good Settlement Offer
- It Covers All Past and Current Medical Bills. ...
- It Accounts for Future Medical Treatment (MMI) ...
- It Fully Reimburses Your Lost Wages and Earning Capacity. ...
- It Includes Fair Compensation for Pain and Suffering. ...
- It Relates Realistically to the Defendant's Policy Limits.
Which insurance company denies the most claims?
Based on 2024–2025 data, Allstate and Farmers are frequently cited as having the highest rate of homeowners insurance claims closed without payment, with denial rates for some affiliates reaching around 50%. For health insurance, UnitedHealthcare and AvMed had the highest denial rates in 2023 at 33%.
What to know before talking to an insurance adjuster?
The only personal information they need from you is your full name, address, and phone number. You can briefly discuss where you work and your occupation, but you do not need to go into details about your daily life activities, hobbies, work schedule, income, etc.
What is the hardest injury to prove?
The hardest injuries to prove in personal injury cases are generally "invisible" injuries that do not show up on standard imaging like X-rays or MRIs, making them difficult to verify objectively. These include soft tissue injuries (whiplash, sprains), mild traumatic brain injuries (concussions), chronic pain conditions (fibromyalgia, CRPS), and psychological injuries (PTSD, depression).
What are the 5 W's when submitting a claim?
Adjusters must solve the 5 W's – Who, What, When, Where, and Why – before settling any property claim, and lightning claims are no exception.
What is the 80% rule for insurance?
The 80% rule in homeowners insurance dictates that you must insure your dwelling for at least 80% of its total replacement cost to receive full coverage (replacement cost) on claims. If coverage falls below this threshold, insurers may only pay a portion of a partial loss or the actual cash value rather than the cost to rebuild.
What are the two main reasons for denying a claim?
Some common reasons for these denials include incorrect or duplicate claims, a lack of medical necessity or supporting documentation, absence of prior authorization, or claims submitted after the required deadline.
Can you trust your insurance adjuster?
Overall, remember that insurance adjusters are not on your side. Be wary when talking to them and contact a hardworking personal injury attorney to advise and handle your case from the beginning. This can help prevent common mistakes that may end up hurting your case.
What are two things that can lower your car insurance?
By selecting a vehicle with these cost-saving factors in mind, you can significantly reduce your insurance expenses while still enjoying reliable coverage.
- Take a Defensive Driving Course.
- Avoid Small Claims. ...
- Pay Your Premium in Full. ...
- Improve Your Driving Record.
What triggers a claim to investigation?
What triggers an insurance claim investigation? Suspicious claims, high-value claims, incomplete documentation, or inconsistencies in information can trigger an investigation.
Who pays the loss adjuster fee?
If your insurance company has appointed a loss adjuster to handle your claim, your insurance company will pay that loss adjuster's fee. If you have appointed a loss adjuster to work on your behalf, you will pay that loss adjuster's fee.
What tactics do claim adjusters use?
Delays that Wear You Down
One of the most common tactics is delay. Adjusters may take weeks to inspect the property, fail to return calls, repeatedly change assigned adjusters, or request documents in stages rather than all at once. These delays can be devastating for homeowners who need immediate repairs.
Which insurance to avoid?
Insurance policies that mix investing with protection or cover highly specific, improbable events are generally not recommended. Financial experts frequently advise skipping these common policies in favor of better alternatives:
Which insurance company has the lowest customer satisfaction?
Farmers made Consumer Reports' 2024 lowest-rated car insurance list, as did all of the other major carriers we list here except for Nationwide. It scored low in overall customer satisfaction, coverage, help and advice, policy review, and service.
How much will I get from a $50,000 settlement?
A complete breakdown of how much of a 50K settlement you can expect to get. It is a big win, but by the time lawyer's fees, court costs, medical bills, and other debts are settled from the settlement, you might end up with an amount between $20,000 and $30,000, based on your situation.
How do I know if an offer is coming?
You'll have a better chance of moving forward in the interview process if you're provided full details about the next steps. An example is that they'll contact you next week if they plan on extending an offer to you. They could also say that they'll reach out to you soon to keep you in mind as well.
When not to accept a settlement offer?
It is a good idea to avoid accepting a settlement offer until you fully recover from your injuries or have a firm medical prognosis about them from your doctor.