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ChatFollowing a car accident, your immediate focus should be on your health and recovery. However, a major distraction often emerges: the insurance adjuster. While they may present themselves as friendly, their primary objective is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line—not your best interests. This can put you, the accident victim, at a significant disadvantage.
The adjuster’s goal is to minimize the amount of money their company pays out. They are experts at this, and without the right information, it’s easy to make a mistake that could cost you thousands of dollars. As a Rhode Island personal injury law firm, we believe it’s our duty to pull back the curtain on the tactics they use.
Here are five secrets insurance adjusters don’t want you to know.
Secret #1: They Want to Get You on a Recorded Line Right Away
The moment an insurance adjuster calls, they may ask for a recorded statement. They’ll tell you it’s a standard, necessary part of the process. What they won’t tell you is that they are trained to ask questions designed to elicit statements they can later use against you.
Saying something as simple as, “I’m fine,” a common courtesy, can be twisted into an admission that you weren’t seriously injured. Any slight inconsistency in your memory, even a small detail, can be used to discredit your entire claim. The truth is, you are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault party’s insurance company. You have a right to decline and let an experienced attorney handle all communication on your behalf.
Secret #2: They Will Use Your Social Media Against You
After an accident, you’re likely to post something on social media—a picture of your dinner, an update on your family, or a comment to a friend. What you may not realize is that insurance adjusters and their investigators are trained to monitor your social media accounts.
They will meticulously comb through your posts, photos, and status updates looking for anything that contradicts your injury claim. A photo of you smiling at a birthday party, for instance, could be used to argue that your pain is not as severe as you claim. Even a simple check-in at a restaurant can be used as “evidence” that you are more mobile than you let on. It’s crucial to be extremely careful about what you post online after an accident.
Secret #3: Their Initial Offer Is Always a Lowball
It’s a tempting tactic. Shortly after an accident, sometimes just a few days later, an adjuster will contact you with a settlement offer. It might seem like a fair amount, especially if you have mounting medical bills. However, this is one of their most powerful secrets: the first offer is almost always a lowball.
They are hoping that you are under financial pressure and will accept the quick cash without realizing the true, long-term value of your claim. A quick settlement is a cheap settlement. An adjuster knows that the full extent of your injuries and long-term medical costs are not yet known. Once you accept a settlement, you legally waive your right to pursue any additional compensation—even if your injuries worsen and require more treatment down the line.
Secret #4: They May Blame Your Injuries on a Pre-Existing Condition
A common tactic used to deny or reduce a claim is to attribute your pain or injury to a pre-existing medical condition. If you have a history of back pain, for example, the adjuster may try to argue that your current back injury from the car accident is not new, but simply a flare-up of an old problem.
This is why detailed, accurate medical records are so important. Your attorney can work with your medical providers to clearly document that your current injuries are directly related to the car accident, not a pre-existing issue. Without professional legal help, you may find yourself struggling to prove that the accident, and not an old injury, is the true cause of your pain.
Secret #5: They Will Drag Their Feet to Make You Desperate
While some adjusters push for a quick settlement, others use the opposite tactic: intentional delays. They will ignore your phone calls, take weeks to respond to emails, and “lose” key paperwork. Their strategy is to wear you down and make you feel so frustrated and desperate that you will eventually accept any offer just to put an end to the process.
This stalling is a deliberate effort to exhaust you emotionally and financially. They know that as your medical bills pile up and your wages are lost, you will become more likely to settle for a lower amount than you deserve.
Don’t Go It Alone
Navigating these secrets and tactics on your own is a huge challenge, especially while you’re focused on recovering from your injuries. The most important secret to remember is this: an experienced Rhode Island personal injury attorney knows how to counter these tactics. They will handle all communication with the insurance company, protect your rights, and fight to ensure you receive the fair and just compensation you are entitled to.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t face the insurance adjuster alone!
It’s Good to Know Mike Bottaro – 24/7 Top-Rated Personal Injury Help
At Bottaro Injury Lawyers, we care for people. Attorney Mike Bottaro and his award-winning legal team handle all types of personal injury cases throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We can even help on cases in other states as well. We pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity, and results. Contact us 24/7 in any method you prefer for a fast, free, and confidential consultation about your case. Text or call us at 401-777-7777 or fill out our free and confidential online form. We are here to serve and help you!