What to Expect From the Insurance Adjuster After a Car Accident
Most people deal with an insurance adjuster long before a lawsuit is even a question. The adjuster's job is to evaluate the claim for the insurance company, and some common practices can lower what a claim is worth if they go unnoticed. Understanding these practices is one reason people consult a car accident attorney before they sign anything.
Recorded statements and medical authorizations
An adjuster for the other driver may call within days to request a recorded statement. Usually there is no duty to give one to the other driver's insurer, though a person's own policy may require cooperation with that insurer. Comments made while hurting or medicated can later be used to dispute the claim. Adjusters sometimes send broad medical authorizations that open records unrelated to the crash. A car accident attorney will often limit what is shared to records connected to the crash.
Early offers and disputed injuries
An early settlement offer can arrive before the full extent of an injury is known. Accepting it usually means signing a release that ends the injury claim. Some insurers argue that minor vehicle damage means no one could have been hurt, or point to gaps in treatment and preexisting conditions. They may also argue comparative negligence, assigning part of the fault to the injured driver.
When the car is repaired or totaled
A property damage claim usually moves faster than an injury claim. If the car can be repaired, the insurer writes an estimate, and the repair shop may find hidden damage once work begins. Whether aftermarket parts may be used depends on the policy and state law. When repairs would exceed a threshold set by state law or the insurer, the car is declared a total loss. The insurer then pays the actual cash value, the market value right before the crash. Listings for comparable cars can support a higher number, and gap insurance, if purchased, may cover what is still owed on https://johnathanlzvz951.alderbrief.com/posts/the-timeline-of-a-car-crash-claim a loan.
Rental cars and loss of use
While the car is being repaired, the at-fault driver's insurer may owe the reasonable cost of a rental or payment for loss of use. The length of that period is often disputed, particularly when parts are delayed or the insurer is slow to inspect. Rental coverage under a person's own policy usually has a daily cap and a limit on the number of days. Receipts and a log of calls with the adjuster help support the claim.
Loss in resale value
Even after a good repair, a car with a crash history often sells for less. That loss is known as diminished value. Whether it can be recovered depends on the state and on the kind of claim. Claims against the at-fault driver's insurer are more commonly allowed than first-party claims under one's own policy, which may exclude diminished value. A written appraisal and the vehicle history report can document the loss. An automobile accident lawyer will know the rule in the state where the crash happened.
Complaints and general information
Each state has an insurance department that takes consumer complaints, and some states also have bad faith laws for unreasonable claim handling. This article is general information, not legal advice, and no article can promise a particular result.