It depends. The first thing to remember is the adjuster works for the liability insurance company that insures the person, place, or business that’s responsible for hurting you. For example, if you or your child got hurt in a dog bite case, it’s likely the adjuster works for the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance company.
The second thing to remember is the adjuster’s driving force is to pay as little as possible, as fast as possible. The faster they pay you, the less chance there is for you to ask for more—like if you need more medical treatment. And once you sign the documents to get the settlement money, you can’t expect any more—ever—even if you later find out you’re hurt worse than you thought.
If you've got a case and need questions answered, call our Spartanburg, South Carolina personal injury lawyer toll free at 888-230-1841.
Here are some tips on dealing with the adjuster now or retaining a professional to do it for you:
- If you have serious injuries or DON'T KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF YOUR INJURIES [which is often the case], you’re at high risk to be taken advantage of by the insurance adjuster. We see this in cases involving:
- inpatient hospitalization,
- surgery,
- a broken bone,
- referrals to a medical specialist like neurologists, orthopedists, or neurosurgeons,
- brain injuries, which may not surface for days or weeks after the accident
- dog attacks, since these cases often involve permanent scarring that takes a long time to set in, not to mention the referral to the plastic surgeon and his work.
The more they have to pay, the harder they fight you. First, the adjuster fights to pay you cheap and quick. If that fails, adjusters fight against paying you what’s right. Because your case will be more medically complicated, you’ve got to know how to handle medical evidence and present it the right way to prove the extent of your injuries. You’ve also got to keep up with how your injury affects your life over time and know how to present a convincing picture of it to persuade them to pay. Don’t risk selling yourself or your family short because you don’t know how to handle your case. That’s what professionals are for. You need an experienced personal injury attorney for the same reasons you need a medical team—this problem’s too big for an amateur to fix.
- If you don’t have a serious injury—maybe you have soreness or a sprain that only requires a visit to the ER, a couple of visits to your doctor, and even a little physical therapy—you may be able to handle the adjuster by yourself. And if you do, here's tips on how to handle the adjuster, written for a car crash case, but the advice is still the same.
- If you are unsure how seriously you are hurt, don’t consider talking to the adjuster until you KNOW. That way, you can make an informed decision about whether it’s safer for you to talk to the adjuster or talk to an attorney first. Believe it or not, I had a case where my client told an adjuster he felt okay, only to discover he needed a spinal operation!
I’m not afraid of the truth: people don’t want to hire attorneys. They don’t want to go to the doctor, either. But sometimes you just need one. And I've worked mighty hard to make our first meeting free, easy, and no-obligation for you.
If you’ve been seriously hurt or just have questions about an injury accident case, contact our Spartanburg accident injury lawyers by filling out our Get Help Now form. or calling our office at 888-230-1841 You’ll get answers from an experienced attorney who’s devoted to helping folks just like you.
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