If another driver’s insurance adjuster calls you after an accident, keep the conversation brief and factual. Provide your name, your contact information, and confirm that the accident happened. End the conversation there and contact a Long Island accident attorney.
Most crucially, do not admit any fault for the accident, or go into details about what happened. Anything you say to an insurance adjuster could be used to minimize a potential injury claim and what you might be owed. Every statement will enter the claim record.
Key Takeaways
- Tell an insurance adjuster your name, give them your contact information, and confirm that you were involved in an accident.
- Never admit fault and do not provide any other details about the crash or events surrounding it.
- You aren’t legally required to give a recorded statement to another driver’s insurer, but you are required to cooperate with your own insurer.
This is What an Insurance Adjuster is Really After When They Call You
An insurance adjuster’s job is to close claims with the least financial impact. Calling quickly, within days or sometimes hours of an accident, isn’t a courtesy; it’s a strategy. You’re still sore, shaken from the accident, and you might not have had a full medical check-up yet. This is the moment that you’re least equipped to describe your injuries accurately.
Whatever you say to an adjuster goes on the claim file, and they will compare this to your medical records later if you end up filing a serious injury claim. A seemingly casual conversation could end up contradicting a real diagnosis that comes later.
Insurance adjusters lean on some common tactics to put you at ease and get you talking:
- They will frame the call and a requested statement as a “quick formality” or “routine paperwork”. It isn’t. It’s evidence that they intend to use against you.
- They will ask open-ended questions about how you’re feeling. If you tell an adjuster you’re good or fine when they ask how you’re feeling (a common formality that most of us do automatically), they could later cite this statement while arguing you weren’t badly hurt.
- They will seek a timeline of symptoms. They will often ask when the pain started and will try to exploit gaps or inconsistencies, particularly if your symptoms evolve or worsen.
- They might offer you a fast settlement. This usually comes in the form of a modest offer, but it might look compelling when you’re facing medical bills and potential time off work. Never accept a claim without having a Long Island injury attorney review your case.
- They could ask for a broad medical release and might send you an email with a link to digitally sign. If this happens, ignore the email, and don’t confirm any digital signatures. You could be signing your own rights away.
These tactics aren’t illegal, but they’re also not designed to help you. The best way to avoid them is to follow the first piece of advice: keep the conversation brief, give only your contact details, and confirm the accident happened, without providing any more information.
How a Long Island Accident Attorney Represents Your Interests and Protects Your Rights
The most effective way to deal with the legal aspects of a car accident is to call an accident attorney on Long Island. A lawyer with personal injury expertise will manage all communications with the other driver’s insurer and will advocate for the compensation you deserve, while protecting your rights.
An accident and personal injury attorney will:
- Handle all communications with the insurer, so you’re never exposed to their pressure or tactics.
- Review and negotiate any settlement offer.
- Review your entire case and the extent of your injuries to prepare for a potential serious injury claim.
- Review any requested medical release before you sign it, limiting what the insurer can access.
- Document your claim extensively, including medical records and lost wages, so that your case isn’t underestimated.
Adjusters in Suffolk and Nassau County all follow a similar playbook, and it catches many people when they’re vulnerable and recovering from an accident and injury.
If you have been in a car accident, talk to The Raimondo Law Firm first for advice on your next steps and for a full case review. Evaluations and consultations are 100% free.
You can reach out to us online or call us 24/7 at (631) 471-1222.
