What does insurance adjuster do, and why should you know about this aspect of the insurance industry? The short answer is this: if you are ever in an accident and need compensation for your injuries, you’ll need legal help and will almost certainly be interviewed by an adjuster who works for the insurance company. Your lawyer can advise you about the best way to answer the questions, but keep in mind that the adjuster is not “on your side.”
Insurance adjusters handle injury claim like the ones you might make. Their job is to pay out the lowest amount of money possible to cover your medical costs, lost income and “pain and suffering.” So, what do insurance adjusters do? And because the terms “claims adjuster” and “insurance adjuster” are interchangeable, we should also ask, “What does claims adjuster do?”
Why You Need a Lawyer?
The mere fact that you have a lawyer to represent you tells the insurance company that you are serious about the claim you filed and are willing to go to court if need be. In every case, insurance representatives would rather deal with a claimant who does not have a lawyer. It makes their job easier and they know they’ll be able to offer you a low settlement amount without having to argue with your lawyer. Adjusters understand that lawyers know how the system works and how to proceed with strong cases.
What Do Insurance Adjusters Do?
Adjusters focus on the cost of the injury to you, both in terms of dollar-value expenses for medical treatment now and in the future, as well as any lost wages you suffered from not being able to work. Both the medical expenses and lost wages must be clearly and directly attributable to the covered accident.
Plus, adjusters verify the exact amount of policy coverage available. If, for example, the maximum amount of coverage listed in your policy is $40,000, you won’t be able to get any more than that in a settlement. Adjusters also make their own assessment, based on any data they’re able to collect, about whether your claim would be able to prevail in a courtroom if you were to file a lawsuit.
Claims vs Lawsuits
The adjuster’s job is to not only give you the lowest payout possible but to make sure the case never goes to trial, especially if you have a lawyer on your side and a decent chance of winning an award at trial. So, what’s the difference between a lawsuit and a claim?
Most injury claims, particularly small ones, are settled out of court. What does a claims adjuster do? They figure out how much your claim is worth and make you a cash offer. If you accept, then you are said to have “settled,” or taken a settlement.
If, on the other hand, you refuse the settlement offer because it is too small or otherwise unacceptable, you can pursue the insurance company in court. Any award you wind at trial is the result of the lawsuit you filed and pursued. All lawsuits begin as claims that were rejected by the injured party. The truth of the matter is, most injury claims are settled without ever going to court.
Trials are hugely expensive and time-consuming affairs. Insurance adjusters handle injury claim in the hopes that it never goes to trial. The only time an adjuster would allow a case to got to trial is if they are confident that you have a poor case or incompetent legal representation, or both.
Now that you know the answer to the question, “What does insurance adjuster do,” you should have a deeper understanding for how important it is to have competent legal representation on your side in the event of an accident.
