Posted on Thursday, June 27th, 2024 at 9:00 am
Being injured in an accident in Utah can be devastating, particularly if the accident wasn’t your fault. If your injuries are severe, you may incur unexpected medical treatment expenses and you might have to take time off work to heal. Accident victims should be able to focus on their recovery, but the financial burden may quickly overwhelm them. If someone else caused the accident that injured you, you can file a claim with their insurance company to pursue the compensation you need to cover your losses. Unsure of how to negotiate with insurance adjuster?
Insurance claims adjusters work to protect the insurance company’s interests, which often means minimizing the payout on claims. Adjusters work for the insurance company, so they are not working with your best interests in mind. Seeking a settlement with an insurance company requires negotiating with the adjuster because they will be reluctant to offer sufficient money to cover all your losses.
Our Sandy and Provo personal injury attorneys from London Harker Injury Law are seasoned negotiators. We know insurers’ motives and know how to counter their tactics to undervalue our clients’ cases.
Understanding the Role of an Insurance Claims Adjuster
An insurance claims adjuster’s primary job is to investigate insurance claims and determine how much, if any, the insurance company should pay the injured party on behalf of their insured. Adjusters assess the damage, review police reports and medical records, and interview witnesses. They want to settle claims quickly and with as little money as possible. Their role is to benefit the insurance company.
An insurance adjuster may contact you to request that you provide a recorded statement. In this statement, they will ask you questions and try to lead you into giving them answers that they can later use to deny or undervalue your claim. The adjuster may also request that you release your medical records to them. It is essential to consult with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement or signing any documents from the insurance company. When an adjuster calls you, refer them to your attorney.
How Do Lawyers Negotiate Settlements?
Don’t know how to negotiate with insurance adjuster? Hiring an attorney can significantly impact the amount of compensation you receive for your case. A seasoned personal injury lawyer has negotiating skills they can use for your benefit. They use these skills when pursuing compensation for injuries and accident-related losses.
Investigation
Before personal injury settlement negotiations can begin, your lawyer will investigate your case. They do so by gathering evidence they can use to support your claim and assessing the full extent of your losses. This assessment will include all of the specific expenses related to your claim, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, as well as the intangible losses you endured, like pain and suffering and post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depression. Additionally, your attorney will review your medical records to determine whether there will be future costs associated with your injuries, such as ongoing medical care of lost wages or earning capacity.
Demand Letter
The next step in the settlement process is the demand letter. Your lawyer will send a demand letter to the insurer that outlines the details of the accident, including who was responsible, documentation of your injuries, and the lawyer’s assessment of the financial relief you need. Their demand will likely be higher than the actual value of your claim to allow room for negotiations that will result in an appropriate amount of money.
Negotiations
At this point, settlement negotiations begin. The insurance company will respond to your demand letter with a counteroffer. Your lawyer and the insurance adjuster will likely go back and forth with demand/counteroffer several times, each arguing why their position is correct and supplying additional documentation when necessary. If a reasonable settlement can be reached, your case will be finished. If not, your lawyer will be prepared to take your case to trial.
What Is a Reasonable Settlement Offer?
How Long Does Settlement Take?
Don’t know how to negotiate with insurance adjuster? Don’t know how long do settlement negotiations take? Every case is different and presents a unique set of circumstances that can influence the progress of negotiations. The length of settlement negotiations can vary significantly based on several factors:
- The duration of your healing process as the case cannot be settled until you are healed or have reached the point at which no further treatment will improve your condition
- The number of parties who contributed to the cause of the accident
- How long the insurance company takes to respond to your lawyer’s requests or demands
- How long the back-and-forth of settlement negotiations take
If the insurer is cooperative, your case is straightforward, liability is clear, and injuries are minor, your settlement could be reached relatively quickly. However, complex cases can take much longer to resolve. Issues arise when liability is challenged, there are severe injuries, or when multiple parties are involved.
Contacting an Attorney
Unsure of how to negotiate with insurance adjuster? Negotiating a settlement with an insurance claims adjuster can be challenging and often frustrating. The adjuster’s primary goal is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line. They may employ various tactics to minimize the payout, including disputing liability and delaying the process.
A skilled personal injury attorney can take on the responsibility for your personal injury case and allow you to focus on healing. Our accomplished Sandy and Provo personal injury attorneys at London Harker Injury Law will advocate for your best interests and negotiate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf. We can handle the complex legal process for you, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Remember, patience and persistence are essential throughout the negotiation process. If else, we could file a lawsuit for you to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
If you’ve been injured through someone else’s wrongdoing and want to speak to one of our attorneys, please call London Harker Injury Law at 77CARCRASH or contact us online. You’ll get a free consultation where our law firm can discuss your options and help you recover fully from your injuries.
