Dealing with Adjusters following a Truck Accident

When you’re traveling at high speeds on the freeway, the sight of a large truck in the next lane is enough to make you grip the steering wheel tighter. Unfortunately, this instinct has some truth behind it— over 70% of fatalities in truck accidents are passengers in other vehicles. If you were involved in an accident with a large truck or tractor-trailer, you’ll probably receive a call from the driver’s insurance adjuster. While they may seem well-intentioned, it’s important to be on guard when dealing with these professionals. Use the following guide to ensure you don’t end up getting the short end of the stick.

How to Handle the Adjuster

In the insurance world, adjusters are trained to be the team’s master manipulator—their aim is to keep your compensation as low as possible. In some cases, they may even try to deny your claim altogether. They’ll do this by giving you a call, introducing themselves as an insurance representative on behalf of the truck driver, and offering sincere apologies for the accident.

However, they’re simply following a well-refined script to get you to settle for less than what you deserve. For example, they might offer to pay for your car’s damages so you can resolve the issue without having to hire a lawyer. While it seems like a nice offer, you can’t forget about your medical bills, time lost from work, and even the anxiety you’ll face getting back behind the wheel.

If an insurance adjuster calls you, the best choice is to refuse to talk to them at all—simply tell them you’re not interested in speaking at this time and hang up the phone. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, focus on giving up the least amount of information possible—everything you say could be used to prove that you deserve less compensation. For example, even answering “good,” to the common greeting, “how are you?” could jeopardize your claim.

How an Attorney Can Protect You

As soon as possible after being involved in a truck accident, find a lawyer who works in this personal injury niche. That way, when the insurance adjuster calls you, you have the perfect way to get out of the conversation—simply instruct them to contact your attorney instead.

Your lawyer will know all the verbal tricks and legal loopholes the adjuster is trying to use to their advantage, so you won’t have to worry about falling for them and jeopardizing your claim. An attorney will also know exactly how much money you deserve, so they won’t take any lowball offers from the adjuster.

If you’re hoping to avoid a disappointing settlement, reach out to Carey & Hamner, P.C. We have plenty of experience helping motorcycle, auto, and truck accident plaintiffs throughout the Dothan, Ozark, and Enterprise, AL, area get the compensation they deserve. In addition to personal injury, they also take on workers’ compensation and Social Security disability cases. To learn more about the firm, visit our website, or give us a call at 334-673-1800 for a free consultation.   During this time of social distancing due to the virus, we are happy to offer telephone consultations, video conferences, and can handle paperwork electronically.