If you have been in an auto accident in the Orlando or Central Florida area, the absolute last thing on your mind is having to talk to an insurance adjuster. But keep in mind that this is part of the course in getting your claim filed and paid. It is very common for insurance adjusters to record the line while they talk to you so that they can go back to it if they need to review your case. But the main question is, should you speak to an insurance adjuster on a recorded line?
You should never talk to an insurance adjuster in a recorded line especially if you haven’t contacted a personal injury lawyer yet. Anything you say can be used against you and might be detrimental to your case. It is best to contact a personal injury lawyer first after being involved in a car accident so that you can best be guided on what to do.
Read along as we take a deep dive into talking to insurance adjusters on a recorded line.
What is an insurance adjuster?
An insurance adjuster or a claims adjuster is an employee or contractor of your insurance company who is in charge of adjusting or lowering the cost of the insurance company’s liability in accidents.
Insurance adjusters can work with you but keep in mind that they still have their employer’s best interest in mind. Cooperation with the insurance adjuster is needed to fulfill your claim but you have to be careful about what you are saying especially on a recorded line because it can be misinterpreted and misconstrued.
Why are insurance adjusters recording the calls?
The goal of an insurance adjusters’ job is to prove that the accident happened and is not fraudulent. By recording the call, they are weeding through fraudulent claims. The insurance adjuster also decides the terms of paying out auto claims and for how much. Interviewing over a recorded line enables them to go back to the conversation if they need to evaluate the case further.
Recording calls are normal and sometimes are used for training purposes as well. It is very important to talk to a personal injury lawyer located in Central Florida first before you talk to an insurance adjuster on a recorded line.
Tips on talking to an insurance adjuster in a recorded line
It is a normal process to talk to an insurance adjuster after you have been involved in an auto accident. It is also very common for them to record your statement for quality control purposes and to go back to the recording if they have any questions about the claims.
This is not a frightening process and you should not be intimidated in talking to an insurance adjuster. But it is best to be prepared. Here are some tips to keep in mind in this situation:
Talk to a personal injury lawyer first
Talking to a personal injury lawyer located in Central Florida is important and should be your first call when you are involved in an auto accident. Personal injury lawyers can best provide advice before you talk to anyone else in giving out your version of the events.
Be calm and polite
Insurance adjusters are not the enemies and keep in mind that they are only doing their job by collecting a statement from you. It will not help your claim if you are rude towards your insurance adjuster. You can’t let your emotions get the best of you and you can’t show anger or hostility towards your claim adjuster.
Take notes
Being in an auto accident can be a confusing and overwhelming time. Keeping track of the dates and who you talk to is important so that you can refer back to this if needed. Writing notes on what was discussed will also help you keep track of what is happening.
Never settle
Some insurance adjusters will pressure you to settle on the first phone call because they just want to get it over with and call it a day. They will throw out several what they “think” is best for your case but you should never take this bait and you should never settle without talking to a personal injury lawyer first.
Give basic information
Oversharing is your worst enemy when it comes to talking to insurance adjusters because you are giving them a leg up with what they know about you and the accident. Sticking to the facts and only giving out basic information about the accident (when, what time, and where the accident occurred) is beneficial. Your injury lawyer will help you with this and most will recommend sending a written statement about the incident coming from your lawyer.
Involved in a car accident? Jordan Law can help
If you were involved in a car accident in the Orlando area, contact Jordan Law today! We are a reputable law firm that can help you with your case and get the correct payout that you are entitled to. Unlike most law firms, our legal experts are approachable and we will help you with every step of the way.