Why You Need Legal Advice in Negotiating with Insurance Adjusters After a Motor Vehicle Accident

Author: owen-lewis posted in: Personal Injury

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Alberta through somebody else’s negligence, it’s important to understand the role of the responsible driver’s insurance adjuster assigned to your claim. Though insurance adjusters may often seem like they are on your side, they are bound by duty and contract to act in the best interests of their employer: the insurance company. A personal injury lawyer from KSMC Law, however, can help to protect your interests by dealing with the assigned adjuster.

Insurance Claim Adjusters Serve Their Insurance Company

An insurance adjuster is a representative sent to investigate and evaluate claims made to the insurance company regarding a motor vehicle accident. The insurance adjuster will seek to assess liability, damages, and your ability to prove your claim for damages. 

An adjuster is legally bound to act in the best interests of the insurance company: their job is to get the lowest settlement possible for their employer. Therefore, though an adjuster may present itself as a mediator between an injured party and the insurance company, an adjuster’s recommendations should always be taken with some skepticism. Any information gathered by an adjuster in its investigation of the accident will likely be used to support the insurance company’s position, not yours. 

Limitations on Insurance Claim Adjusters

Adjusters will often provide their opinions on who is responsible for an accident and how much an injured party is entitled to in damages. However, the opinions of adjusters suffer from two important limitations. 

First, adjusters may have limited knowledge of the law regarding motor vehicle accidents, especially in Alberta, which has unique legislation and applicable case law. 

Second, there are no barriers to an adjuster suggesting or even recommending a settlement that gives you less than you deserve and that allows the insurance company to keep money in their pockets. In fact, evidence suggests that individuals who do not hire a lawyer to assist with their claims for injury damages will settle their claims for less than a third of what represented injured individuals receive as damages for similar injuries. If you are presented with an offer for injuries like whiplash, chronic pain, or a spinal cord injury from an insurance adjuster, you should always consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer before accepting and signing a release.

KMSC Injury Law Team

Because insurance adjusters serve their insurance companies, you need a personal injury lawyer in your corner, fighting for you. If you are having trouble negotiating with an insurance adjuster, contact the Injury Law Team at KMSC Law today for a free consultation. Our experienced team of litigators will take on the complex and emotional burden of dealing with the insurance adjuster, and will provide you with informed, reasoned, and unbiased legal advice regarding your rights and the full value of your potential claim.