Ways to Deal with Insurance Adjusters after a Motorcycle Accident
When you've
been injured in a motorcycle crash, you'll hear from an insurance adjuster. In
fact, one of your first phone calls after the accident may be the adjuster.
Adjusters want to figure out what happened and the severity of your injuries.
You likely won't be in the frame of mind to have a conversation with an
insurance adjuster. You may feel confused or you may not remember every detail
of the accident. Also, you may not be aware of the extent of your injuries,
especially if you haven't had a thorough medical evaluation. Here are a few
ways you can deal with those initial conversations with insurance adjusters.
Know Who You're Talking To
Before you
say anything, make sure you know whether you're speaking to an adjuster from
your insurance company or one from the other party's company. If the adjuster
represents your own insurance company, you must cooperate. Cooperation is a
duty that you have as the insured party. This means you're obligated to
participate in the investigation of your insurance claim. Be wary when the
adjuster is calling on behalf of the other party involved in the accident.
While your insurance company is concerned about you, their provider is focused
primarily on saving the company money. They may ask you for a recorded
statement. You're not required to give one. In fact, you shouldn't before you
talk with your attorney.
Don't Sign Documents
Of course,
there will be a variety of documents you'll likely sign as part of the
insurance claim process. Be cautious about signing anything from an insurance
adjuster. The other party's insurance company wants your medical records. An
adjuster will ask you to sign a medical release. This allows the insurance
company to obtain your medical records. The issue with this is the potential
for them to gain access to more of your medical information than is needed to
settle the claim. The adjuster could use the medical release to speak directly
to your doctor. That's not an ideal situation since your doctor may not know
how to speak with an insurance company. The best way to handle medical records
is to gather the documents from your accident, copy them, and send them to the
insurance company.
Wait to Settle Your Claim
Remember, the
other party's insurance company isn't your friend. The adjuster's job is to
save the insurance company money. One way they do this is by offering a quick
settlement to the injured party. In some cases, an adjuster may try to settle
your case before you even see a doctor. Their offer will never be for the value
of your case. If you do accept a settlement, you'll sign a release. Once that
happens, the adjuster knows you're not likely to come back and file a claim if
your damages and losses end up being higher than you initially thought. The
reason a quick settlement isn't a good idea is that you won't have time to get
an accurate assessment of your injuries or damage to your motorcycle and other
personal property. You may not feel like you're seriously injured and still
have internal injuries. Wait until you've been thoroughly examined by a doctor,
then talk with a lawyer. Both can prevent you from making a mistake by agreeing
to something that isn't in your best interest.
If you've
been injured, contact an attorney who specializes in motorcycle accidents. Call
Steelhorse Law's 24-hour hotline at 1-888-38-COURT (1-888-382-6878).
