One of the most difficult parts of being involved in a car accident is dealing with the insurance adjusters after the crash. The insurance adjuster helps decide if a settlement will occur in your car accident as well as the amount of the award for your injuries and property damage.
It is a challenge to negotiate with a Greenville, South Carolina insurance adjuster as they have dealt with several claims and want to offer you the lowest settlement possible for your car accident. Insurance companies want to save as much money as possible when it comes to an insurance claim and are notorious for offering lowball settlement awards for car accident injuries and property damage.
The easiest and most efficient way to deal with an insurance adjuster in Greenville, South Carolina is to have a car accident attorney handle all negotiations with these insurance companies on your behalf. An experienced Greenville car accident lawyer knows when a fair settlement has been offered and will not fall victim to a low offer.
You can have a car accident attorney handle all calls from insurance adjusters for your car accident so you can focus on your recovery and not have to worry about being talked into a settlement that was not fair for your injuries.
What Can I Expect When Dealing with a Greenville, South Carolina Insurance Adjuster?
When you work with a Greenville, South Carolina insurance adjuster, you will first receive a reservation of rights letter. This clears the insurance company from immediately offering you a settlement award and provides them time to investigate your case. This letter is nothing to be alarmed over, as it is standard protocol in most car accident claims and is step one in your negotiation process.
If you are not working with a Greenville car accident lawyer, you need to have a settlement award amount in mind before you begin speaking to insurance adjusters in Greenville, South Carolina. You should consider your injuries and the medical bills you have incurred for their treatment. You may also have lost wages from work that you need compensation for in addition to the cost of your vehicle damage repairs.
Consider the total amount of all your damages and keep this number in mind when you begin to discuss your case with an insurance company. By working with a car accident attorney, you don’t have to worry about this additional information. They will make sure you have all of the information you need to request a fair settlement that includes any expenses you have already paid for as well as any you may have to pay in the future.
After you give them a number, the Greenville, South Carolina insurance adjuster that you are working with will offer you a claim amount. While you may be eager to accept this offer to close your car accident case and move forward with your life, it is best not to accept the first offer given to you. An insurance company almost always offers a low settlement amount on the first offer. Remember, they want to spend as little money as possible to settle your claim. Accepting this first settlement amount will forfeit your ability to get additional compensation should you determine later that it was a low offer.
Even if you feel insulted by their first offer, remain calm when you speak to Greenville, South Carolina, insurance adjusters. They are usually willing to negotiate with you if you work with them. You or your attorney will state your case and explain the severity of your injuries and property damage. Be sure to stress the pain that you are experiencing and be honest about the severity of your injuries. Do not appear too willing to compromise or settle your case. An experienced Greenville insurance adjuster can detect if you are close to settling and will not offer any additional compensation for your injuries or property damage.
When Do I Accept a Settlement from a Greenville, South Carolina Insurance Adjuster?
When you do reach a settlement with an insurance adjuster in Greenville, South Carolina, before you agree and sign the settlement offer, it is best if you speak to a car accident attorney if you have not done so already. An experienced car accident attorney can advise you if the settlement offer is fair and if you need to take your car crash case to court to receive a larger settlement award.
Always ask for the settlement amount in writing, so you have a permanent record of the agreement from the negotiations. Your car accident attorney will review the documents to ensure that you are getting a fair deal and are receiving everything promised during your negotiations.
Can a Greenville Car Accident Attorney Help Me?
Having a car accident lawyer handle all the negotiations with the insurance company can make the process of receiving a fair settlement for your car accident claim faster and easier. A car accident attorney will negotiate with a Greenville, South Carolina, insurance adjuster on your behalf and get you the maximum settlement award in your case.
This can allow you to forego the high pressure and stress of taking calls from an insurance company. You are able to focus on your recovery and getting back to work. When your car accident attorney is unable to negotiate a settlement award that they agree is fair, they will advise you of your legal rights under the law. They will take your car crash case to court, where a jury will provide you the settlement you deserve.
Your car accident lawyer works for you against the insurance company adjusters and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. They have your best interests in mind during negotiations and know what your injuries and property damage are worth. They know when a low settlement award is offered and will accept nothing less than what your car accident claim is worth. You can count on a car crash attorney to get you justice in your car accident case and provide a settlement award that will pay for your recovery and lost time from work.
Schedule a Consultation with a Car Accident Attorney in Greenville, SC Today
When involved in a car accident where a settlement award is offered by a Greenville, South Carolina insurance adjuster, allow a Greenville car accident lawyer to advise you to ensure you receive full and fair compensation. They can help you get the maximum settlement award for your injuries and negotiate all claims with an insurance company in your car accident case.
It is tough to deal with insurance adjusters because, despite the smiles and friendliness, the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim probably is not on your side. This is because insurance adjusters have one job, and one job only: to save the company for which they work as much money as possible. Because of this, the insurance adjuster assigned to your case will likely be looking for anything that they can that can be used to diminish your claim’s value. This includes any signs or admissions of fault, a lack of injuries, previously existed injuries and property damage, and more. Here are some tips for dealing with the insurance adjuster after a car accident:
Tips For How to Deal With Insurance Adjusters
Remain Professional
No matter how emotional you are feeling or how frustrating the claim’s process is, remain professional during all of your interactions with an insurance adjuster. Do not raise your voice or get angry, do not share emotional stories, and do not treat the insurance adjuster as an enemy nor as a friend.
Stick to the Facts & Remain Truthful
Never tell the insurance adjuster more than they need to know; instead, keep it short and simple and only stick to the fact. Further, speak to your car accident attorney so that you know exactly what information you are obligated to share with the insurance adjuster – there are likely many things about your claim that you are not obliged to share. If you do not know the answer to a question that is asked by the insurance adjuster, do not make up an answer. Instead, just say that you do not know.
Do Not Admit Fault
The worst thing that you can do when dealing with an insurance adjuster is to make any admission or showing of fault. This includes saying that you are sorry, that you think you were speeding (or doing something else in violation of traffic laws), that you have regrets, that you feel guilty, or anything else that implies that you did something wrong. If you admit fault, you can be sure that your settlement offer will be diminished (assuming you have traditional tort insurance). An admission of fault can also be used against you at a later date if you pursue litigation.
Do Not Sign Anything
Whatever you do, do not sign anything that is given to you by an insurance adjuster without having it thoroughly reviewed by your car accident attorney first. One thing that may seem innocuous that your insurance adjuster may ask you to sign is a document allowing them to access your medical records. Access to your medical records may seem harmless; however, if your medical records reveal anything about your health that could be used against you – such as that you need contact or glasses to drive (and you were not wearing them at the time of the accident) – you may be in trouble.
How a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer at Hernandez & Cabra Can Help
An insurance adjuster may also ask you to sign a release of claims. If you sign this, you will be releasing the insurance company from all liability, and will, therefore, lose your right to pursue damages in the future.
To help you understand more about how insurance adjusters determine damages in a car accident claim and how to deal with the insurance adjuster assigned to your case, schedule a consultation with a Greenville car accident lawyer.
