Before reading about the other tips, be sure to heed the advice in this one: Avoid saying anything that could affect your personal injury claim.
Before sharing any information, get the information that you need:
• The name of the person that has called you
• The address and phone number of the same caller
• The name of the insurance company that has employed the caller
Once you have those facts, concentrate on making sure that the adjuster will believe what you plan to say. Adjusters’ inclination to deny a given claim increases, if a claimant has used unkind or harsh words, while offering an explanation for what took place on the day of the accident. So, try to be as polite as possible.
What you should feel comfortable saying
Say that you cannot offer any details on your injury at this time, but promise to share more details in a demand letter. An experienced adjuster should realize that a smart claimant does not write a demand letter until after arriving at the point of maximum medical improvement (MMI).
If you have some witnesses, it is also safe to promise more facts about specific witnesses in the future. As per personal injury lawyer in Fergus, do not volunteer that statement and only make it if you are asked about witnesses.
Be sure to indicate that you will be seeking treatment for your injuries. In that way, you allow for the possibility that any one injury could start to develop more severe symptoms.
What you should avoid saying
Do not agree to give the adjuster a taped statement, unless you can have your lawyer beside you during the taping.
Do not share the identities of any witnesses. The adjuster should be able to gain access to the police report, and check for the names of any witnesses in that same report.
Do not try to create the impression that you have a stronger case by including a reference to a pre-existing condition. Your lawyer could mention that condition to the physician that gave you the first post-accident examination. That same physician had lacked any facts about your medical history, when making his/her observations.
You should not feel compelled to offer the times for any scheduled appointments. Some adjusters try to learn the results by calling the doctor’s office. If the doctor is not available at that time, the same adjusters might speak with a nurse, or even with the doctor’s secretary.
If the adjuster were to obtain the doctor’s contact information, and were to speak with a nurse or secretary, then you should have your lawyer talk with the same adjuster. Otherwise, you will have no control over the delivery of whatever facts relate to your reported and treated injuries.