Hurt in a car wreck? Expect to be dealing with an insurance adjuster after a car accident in Tennessee. The auto accident insurance adjuster’s job is to assess liability, vehicle repair or replacement cost and any medical damages. They may come to you or request you show up at their middle Tennessee inspection facility. One common mistake after a TN car accident injury is assuming the adjuster will help them throughout the claims process. Liability insurance adjusters are trained to save money for their employer. Auto accident insurance adjusters may use deceitful tactics to deny your claim or reduce your settlement value. Sounds like a good friend, right? Dealing with an insurance adjuster after a Tennessee car accident alone is a daunting task. Read enough and want help? Call George at 615-422-7171 or Start a FREE CONSULTATION.
Below is a list of questions to ask early on and before signing anything. The questions can assist you and us, but is not a substitute for retaining a trusted Tennessee Car Accident Lawyer to maximize your settlement and handle every detail of your car wreck personal injury claim.
Questions To Ask An Insurance Adjuster After A Car Accident in Tennessee
- Ask the insurance adjuster to provide a written statement that the accident was not your fault and was caused by their insured driver.
- If they will not do this then they plan to argue later on that the car accident was totally or partially your fault.
- Ask the insurance adjuster for a copy of their insured’s recorded statement.
- Usually the insurance company will take their driver’s statement first. If they haven’t yet, they will. The adjuster will ask for your recorded statement, but they will generally not provide a copy of their driver’s statement.
- Ask the insurance adjuster for a copy of any witness statements.
- We highly doubt the insurance company will share this information, but you are entitled to review witness statements.
- Insurance adjusters will ask you to sign a HIPAA (medical) release. This form allows the insurance company to obtain your medical records. Require a written agreement that they will provide you with a copy of each record collected and restrict the medical release to records pertaining to personal injuries sustained in the car wreck AND records dated on or after the accident.
- George does not advise clients to sign a medical release. Most medical releases are written so broadly that the insurance company can talk to any of your doctors and obtain any record, even if it is not related to the car wreck personal injury.
- Request the insurance adjuster for a copy of any medical information or personal information they have about you through computer databases or other resources. Insurance companies collaborate and share data in an effort to reduce settlements.
- If the insurance adjuster says they do not have medical or public records on you then request an affidavit stating they do not have data on your medical or personal history.
- Ask the insurance adjuster if they have any credit score, income or debt load information about you. Some insurance companies know your personal financial information and may use it for their benefit. For example, if you missed work because of the car accident and were already behind on payments, that would be the perfect time for a fast LOW settlement offer.
- If the insurance adjuster says they do not have financial records on you then request an affidavit stating they do not have data on your personal financial information.
- Ask the insurance company if they have initiated surveillance, retained a private investigator or canvassed your neighborhood asking questions about your life or personal injury. If yes, request a copy of any videos, photographs or investigative reports they have obtained. As to neighbor statements ask for copies of the statements and information collected.
- If the insurance adjuster says they do not have surveillance records, investigative reports or neighbor statements then request an affidavit stating they do not have this information.
- Ask the insurance adjuster for the amount of settlement reserve allocated for your Tennessee car accident injury case. This is a regulatory requirement for publicly traded auto insurance companies and common practice for all liability carriers.
- We are not aware of any insurance company that will share this information. The reserve is the insurance adjuster’s assessment of a top fair settlement value. Instead paying the reserve, the insurance company prefers to pay less.
One of the most effective ways to ensure your Tennessee Car Accident Personal Injury claim is fairly handled by an insurance adjuster is to contact an attorney as soon as possible.