Getting into a car accident is bad enough. After all, you have to deal with many extra doctor’s visits and other appointments related to the accident. You naturally want to file a personal injury lawsuit with the defense. However, did you know how their insurance adjuster will handle your claim? You cannot do it all on your own but need the expert services of a personal injury lawyer to help you win damages.
Who exactly is an insurance adjuster?
You have probably heard of the term insurance adjuster even before you hired a Personal injury Lawyer in Alameda. You have probably wondered, “who exactly is an insurance adjuster?” An insurance adjuster is a professional who works on behalf of the insurance company to negotiate the fairest (usually lowest) settlement for the insurance company. These adjusters tend to be independent contractors.
How do adjusters settle claims?
Personal injury lawyers know the answer to this question all too well, and you need to know as well. Insurance adjusters are evaluated and paid based on how ‘well’ they settle the claims. Adjusters who settle claims quickly and award lower payouts receive high evaluations, pay, bonuses, and lots of promotions. These professionals are generally working on at least 50 to 100 cases at any given time, so your case may be nothing more than a number to them. Adjusters who can settle claims independently are given higher evaluations and are paid more. The claims process moves quickly if the adjuster knows that you know the exact monetary value of your claim.
The negotiations process
You tend to be much better educated on your claim than the adjuster will be. This is because they are untrained professionals who do not spend much time studying your claim. After all, you were there at the scene of the accident – the adjuster was not. The adjuster has the legal right to settle the claim with you over the phone. Keep in mind that experienced adjusters tend not to settle claims for any more than $30,000. Adjusters with less experience and newbies may set the settlement limit much higher.
The insurance adjuster tends not to tell you what the limits of the settlement the insurance company will award you unless you tell him or her that you have received a higher offer. The adjuster will generally consult with his or her superiors both for advice and for permission to raise the upper limit on the insurance payout. If this happens, ask the adjuster for the date by which this will happen and then send him or her a letter that officially confirms that date.
Knowing how the process works makes the litigation process easier. Now that you know how the negotiation process works, you and your personal injury lawyer can craft a solid personal injury lawsuit.