Understanding the Role of the Adjuster in Your Injury Case
Let’s say that you are in an accident, be it a car accident a fall or any other kind of accident that causes you injury. You know that you will try to sue the Defendant (the negligent or liable party). You know that the Defendant will have an attorney. But then your attorney starts mentioning something about an adjuster, what the adjuster says, and about documents the adjuster wants.
Who is this adjuster? What role does an adjuster play in your injury case?
The Role of the Adjuster
An adjuster is someone who works for an insurance company. In a personal injury case, an insurance company plays a large role, but that insurance company is a company—it needs a person to speak for it. So, the adjuster’s job is to be the eyes, ears, brains, and spokesman for the insurance company.
An adjuster plays a lot of roles. The adjuster will work with the insurance company’s legal representation, making decisions for the insurance company and dictating strategy to the insurance company lawyers. The adjuster will look at your case, and your medical records, and suggest to the insurance company what, if anything, you should be offered to settle the case.
An adjuster is not an attorney—but because the adjuster has many years of handling law cases, and working with defense attorneys, many adjusters do know a lot about the law—certainly more than the average person may know.
Negotiating With the Adjuster
Your injury attorney will usually speak with the adjuster, when trying to resolve your case. Before a lawsuit is filed, the adjuster will be the one to look at and evaluate your case. The adjuster will often ask for documentation from your injury attorney, about your accident or injury.
If the case can be resolved via settlement with an adjuster, you may not need to file a lawsuit. But if the adjuster doesn’t offer enough compensation for your injuries, you may have to file a lawsuit (a decision you will, of course, make with the advice and counsel of your attorney).
Settling and Going to Trial
Adjusters don’t have full authority to do whatever they want, whenever they want, or authority to offer you absolutely anything to settle your case. Rather, an adjuster will often have to get approval from those higher up on the corporate ladder in the insurance company, to do things like offer you money to settle your case.
Adjusters will often attend every part of your trial. They will be present at your deposition, at mediation, and of course, at your injury trial. Since every insurance company sued will have an adjuster, if you sue multiple defendants, there may be multiple adjusters at each stage of your personal injury case.
We know what to expect at your personal injury trial. Let us help you. Contact the personal injury attorneys at Cameron Law today at 702-745-4545 for a free consultation.
Sources:
yourfreecareertest.com/claims-adjuster/
bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/claims-adjusters-appraisers-examiners-and-investigators.htm
