What to Do if the Insurance Adjuster Makes False Claims After a Car Crash

You’ve been injured in a car crash, and up until now, everything seemed to be going fine. The other party’s insurance adjuster called you—a good sign that they know their client is at fault, right? They seemed sympathetic and eager to learn about the accident, and even apologetic about your injuries.

But at some point, things took a wrong turn. You mentioned an old back injury in passing, and now they won’t stop bringing it up in relation to your accident. You said something about the music playing on the radio at the time of the crash, and now the adjuster won’t stop referring back to your “distracted driving” and the role it played. What happens next?

The team at Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short is here to help you sort out these complicated issues and fight for what’s right. Call us at 334-560-1936 to set up a consultation with our team now.

Stop Talking

First, stop talking to the insurance adjuster. Once you’ve said something that they are determined to distort, there’s no going back. You can’t “fix it” by explaining what you meant or trying to backtrack. In fact, anything you add to your story or retelling now can only cause further damage. Instead of trying to reverse what you said, accept that the damage is done and just stop talking to them.

End the Conversation and Reroute

If you can’t talk to the insurance adjuster, what should your next step be, then? Politely end the call and hang up. Try to jot down exactly what you told them because you’ll likely forget by the time you need to tell your attorney. Even if it makes you cringe, write down anything you said that you know could harm your case.

It’s time to reroute and move ahead. Your next step is to hire an attorney. You can’t trust the other party’s insurance adjuster to do what’s right for you, because they have no obligation to help you.

Their primary interest is their company’s bottom line, and the quickest and easiest way to save money for their company is by denying accident claims. If they can twist your words and make the accident seem like it was your fault or pin your injuries on a preexisting condition, they have a good chance of succeeding. That isn’t necessarily the case when you bring in an attorney.

Be Honest with Your Attorney

However, if you want your attorney to be successful and try to make up for any of the damage you’ve done, you have to be honest and upfront. Perhaps in hindsight, you know you said the wrong thing to the insurance adjuster and you feel silly or embarrassed.

Don’t worry, and absolutely do not hide what you said because you’re afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of your lawyer. Your lawyer has seen and heard things that are a million times worse. They aren’t interested in mocking you—they just want to help you get the compensation you deserve. The more honest you are with them, the easier it is for them to advocate for you.

Follow Your Lawyer’s Advice

Now that you have retained a car accident attorney and taken a step back from talking to the insurance company, just listen to your lawyer. It really is that simple. If you choose the right attorney, they will have navigated hundreds if not thousands of car accident claims before, and yours will likely not pose any special challenge. Even if it does, an experienced lawyer will be able to navigate it.

All you have to do is avoid giving the insurance company ammunition to use against you. Avoid talking to the insurance company, stay in touch with your attorney, and do what they tell you.

Reach Out to Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short Now

Insurance companies are very good at getting individuals to act against their own best interests. Don’t let their underhanded tactics work on you. Instead, bring in a team of attorneys ready to advocate for you and fight for the compensation you are owed. Contact Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short online or call us at 334-560-1936 to set up a time to chat.