What should I know about dealing with auto insurance claims adjusters?

A claims adjuster works specifically for a company or represents more than a single company. A claims adjuster will determine the amount you are entitled to claim under your policy and verifies the loss.

Bill Mellander, spokesman for Allstate Insurance Co., in Northbrook, Ill, advises, “Make sure you have an understanding of your auto insurance policy.

Know what your policy covers in the event of an auto accident. And if you have questions about what your policy covers, call your agent”. 

Brian Brylinski recommends immediately calling the police in the event of an accident and waiting for their arrival at the accident scene. “Provide any information the officer requests and ask for a copy of the accident report, (because) you may need it to support your claim. It’s important that our insurance company knows about the accident; failure to report the incident could violate the terms of your policy. Your insurance provider can also provide important advice. Taking such steps should help your carrier get to work on the claim fast and personally handle the claim from beginning to end”, advises Brylinski.

Brylinski claims, “Use direction when talking to the other driver(s). Don’t discuss the accident or details of your insurance coverage with anyone but the police and your insurance company of agent”. Brylinski also recommends for you to observe the accident scene. He claims, “If it’s possible to safely do so, observe the damage on the vehicles, whether the airbag has deployed, and whether the vehicles can be driven from the scene or need to be towed”.

Grail Stewart-Rumsey, assistant secretary of auto and property claims for Harleysville Insurance, in Harleysville, Penn, says that motorists should write down important information. Stewart-Rumsey claims, “That includes: names, addresses, telephone numbers, drivers’ license numbers, license plate numbers, as well as makes and models/years of vehicles, insurance company names, and policy numbers”.

Stewart-Rumsey then says, “You may feel bad about an accident or feel bad about somebody getting hurt. But don’t admit fault at the accident scene, because it may turn out that you’re not legally liable”.

Getting into an accident is never a good time. Dealing with auto insurance claims adjusters isn’t easy, but if taking the correct steps with responsibility and precaution, this shouldn’t be hard at all. If you have any other questions regarding your accident case, feel free to either contact your insurance agent, or surf the internet in order to gather more information.

If you want to thoroughly identify what amount you are entitled to receive, provide evidence for the auto insurance claims adjuster and let him identify the amount with better information.