What to Expect From the Insurance Adjuster After a Car Crash
After a car crash, most people deal with an insurance adjuster long before they think about a lawsuit. The adjuster's job is to evaluate the claim for the insurance company, and some common practices can lower what a claim is worth if they go unnoticed. Knowing what to expect is one reason people talk with a car accident lawyer before they sign anything.
What the adjuster may ask for
The other driver's insurer may call within days and ask for a recorded statement. There is usually no obligation to give one to the other side's insurer, though a person's own policy may require cooperation with that insurer. Comments made while hurting or medicated can later be used to dispute the claim. Adjusters sometimes send broad medical authorizations that open records unrelated to the crash. An auto accident attorney will often limit what is shared to records connected to the crash.
Common settlement practices
An early settlement offer can arrive before the full extent of an injury is known. Accepting it usually means signing a release that ends the injury claim. Some insurers argue that minor vehicle damage means no one could have been hurt, or they may point to preexisting conditions and gaps in treatment. Many also raise comparative negligence, assigning a share of the fault to the injured driver.
Property damage claims
The property damage part of a claim usually resolves sooner than the injury part. When a car is repairable, the insurer prepares an estimate, and the shop may find more damage once the car is taken apart. Whether aftermarket parts may be used depends on the policy and state law. If repairs would cost more than a threshold set by state law or the insurer, the car is declared a total loss. The insurer then pays the actual cash value, the market value right before the crash. Listings for comparable cars can support a higher number, and gap insurance, if purchased, may cover what is still owed on a loan.
Getting around during repairs
The at-fault driver's insurer may owe the reasonable cost of a rental car, or payment for loss of use, while repairs are underway. The length of that period is often disputed, especially when parts are back-ordered or the inspection is delayed. Rental coverage under a person's own policy usually has a daily cap and a limit on the number of days. Receipts and a log of calls with the adjuster https://caraccidentlawyers.wiki/geography/united-states/georgia/metro-atlanta/ help support the claim.
Diminished value
A repaired car with a crash history often sells for less than one without. That difference is called diminished value. Whether it can be recovered depends on the state and the type of claim. Claims against the at-fault driver's insurer are more commonly allowed than first-party claims under one's own policy, which may exclude diminished value. An independent appraisal and the vehicle history report help document the loss. A motor vehicle accident attorney will know the rule in the state where the crash happened.
Complaints and general information
Every state has an insurance regulator that accepts consumer complaints, and some states have bad faith laws for unreasonable claim handling. This is general information rather than legal advice, and no article can promise any result.