The days following an accident are often a blur. Between scheduling medical appointments, arranging vehicle repairs, and managing the physical pain of your injuries, your phone rings. It’s an insurance adjuster. They sound friendly, concerned, and eager to “help you close your file quickly.”
It is natural to want to cooperate. You just want this ordeal to be over. However, handling this conversation incorrectly can have devastating financial consequences. While the adjuster may seem sympathetic, their professional objective is very different from yours.
Understanding how to navigate these conversations is critical for protecting your rights and your future. Here is what every Hoosier needs to know about dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident.
Understanding the Insurance Adjuster’s Role
To navigate the claims process, you first need to understand who you are talking to. An insurance adjuster’s primary job is to investigate insurance claims to determine the extent of the insurance company’s liability.
In simpler terms, they are looking for reasons to pay you less.
Insurance companies are businesses. Like any business, they aim to maximize profits and minimize expenses. Unfortunately, in the context of an injury claim, you are the expense. Adjusters are trained to identify information that can devalue your claim. They might look for pre-existing medical conditions, alleged inconsistencies in your story, or statements that that they can use to suggest you were partially to blame for the incident.
This doesn’t mean adjusters are villains. They are professionals doing a job. But knowing that their loyalty lies with the insurance provider—not with you—should change how you approach every interaction with them.
Get an Attorney or At Least Speak with One
The best thing to do after your injury is to speak with a personal injury attorney right away so you can know your rights. Here at Craven, Hoover & Blazek, P.C., an attorney will speak with you free of charge to obtain the facts surrounding your possible case and determine whether or not an attorney is necessary given the facts of the case.
You are generally not legally obligated to provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. These statements are often used to cross-reference your story later to find minor inconsistencies. If your memory of the event changes slightly months later—which is common with trauma—they may use the recording to attack your credibility.
If you must give a statement to your own insurance company (which is often a requirement of your policy), keep your answers brief, factual, and direct. Do not volunteer extra information. DO NOT give a statement for anyone without consulting with an attorney first.
Get a Free Case Review in Indianapolis ⚖
Navigating Indiana Codes, dealing with aggressive adjusters, and calculating fair compensation for long-term injuries is a heavy burden to carry alone. This is where professional legal counsel becomes indispensable.
An experienced personal injury attorney acts as a shield between you and the insurance company. Once you have representation, adjusters are generally required to direct all communication through your lawyer. This prevents you from accidentally saying something that could arguably damage your case.
The Clock Is Ticking
It is also vital to remember the Statute of Limitations. According to Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, you generally have exactly two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in most cases.
Insurance adjusters know this timeline well. Some may drag out negotiations or delay returning calls in hopes that you miss this deadline. An attorney ensures your claim is filed correctly and on time, preserving your right to seek justice. A defendant’s insurance company does not owe you any duties.
Protect Your Future
Recovering from an injury is hard enough without the added stress of a complex legal battle. While insurance adjusters play a necessary role in the claims process, remember that they are negotiating for their employer, not for you.
By knowing your rights under Indiana law, you can protect the compensation you deserve. You should not have to feel overwhelmed by insurance paperwork or pressure from adjusters, and you do not and should not have to face it alone.
Don’t let an insurance adjuster decide what your injury is worth. Our team understands Indiana’s comparative fault laws and knows how to counter the tactics insurance companies use to devalue claims. Contact Us Today to schedule your free, no-obligation case review in Indianapolis. Let us handle the legal fight so you can focus on healing.
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