How to Deal with an Insurance Adjuster After a FL Car Accident

Being involved in a serious or permanently life-altering car accident in Florida is devastating not only for the victims, but for their families as well. Whether the person involved in the collision was a main income earner for the household, the person most responsible for taking care of the children, or a child, the entire family becomes intricately involved in the recovery process.

During this often confusing and emotionally frustrating time, insurance claim adjusters may start calling and sending letters to get more information about your accident. Do not be fooled by a friendly or seemingly sympathetic voice. These adjusters do not get paid to be your friend or help you settle your claim for what it is actually worth. Insurance claim adjusters are trained professionals who advance through their careers by ensuring that the insurance company pays out as little as possible to car accident victims like you.

The best thing you can do in this situation is to retain the legal services of an experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorney who will communicate with the insurance claim adjuster on your behalf to make sure your legal rights are not being dismissed or manipulated by the insurance company.

What Not to Do When Dealing with Insurance Claim Adjusters

Following a few of these simple rules for dealing with insurance claim adjusters can help prevent you from accidentally damaging your Florida personal injury claim before it even begins.

Do not let the insurance adjuster record your conversations - Insurance adjusters will use every trick in their book to try to get you to say something that will let the insurance company deny or reduce your injury claim. They will ask you if they can record your conversation so they can use your own statements against you. Do not allow them to do this.

Do not sign any medical release forms - Another common insurance company trick is getting you to release your medical records. A medical release form will allow the car insurance company to see every medical treatment, surgery, etc. you've ever had, not just the records pertaining to your Florida car accident. By having this information, the insurance company will look for pre-existing conditions or past medical treatments that they can use to deny or significantly reduce your claim.

Do not sign any settlement offers without having them reviewed by your St. Petersburg car accident attorney - The insurance claim adjuster's goal is to get you to either damage your ability to collect a fair settlement or get you to accept the lowest settlement possible. Often this initial settlement offer is completely insufficient and will not be able to address all of your medical bills, lost wages, quality-of-life issues, and long-term medical needs. Once signed, these settlements will also often force you to waive your rights to further compensation, even if it is found that your car accident injury is much worse than originally thought or requires future surgeries.

Contacting a St. Petersburg Car Accident Attorney

Unfortunately, insurance companies almost never offer Florida car accident victims the settlements they need or deserve after a devastating car crash. To protect your legal rights and ensure your insurance settlement will adequately address your present and future medical needs relating to your Florida car accident, order our free consumer guide, Your Guide to Accident Claims in Florida: Don't Wreck Your Injury Case or contact a St. Petersburg car accident attorney at the Law Offices of William K. Saron - 727-345-4566 or 866-836-4947.