Manchester Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Common Adjuster Tactics

When you work with a Manchester personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC, we will explain the common tactics used by insurance adjusters. They are trained to try to minimize the losses for the insurance companies they work for. They may thus try to trick you into settling early in the claims process for far less than the amount to which you are entitled. The Manchester car accident lawyers at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC are experienced negotiating with insurance companies and are familiar with the types of tactics adjusters typically use.

Asking for Your Statement

While it is not always a ploy, people should be wary when they are asked to give a statement to an insurance adjuster. They must investigate the claims that are presented to them, and doing so often involves their interviewing all of the witnesses to the crash. In some cases, however, an adjuster may try to get you to commit to something they can later use to deny your claim, or to offer you a very low amount to settle your case. If you are asked to give a statement, it is important for you to first speak with a Manchester personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC so you can get advice on how to handle the request.

Signed Statements

If your adjuster wants you to give a signed statement, they will meet with you and ask a series of questions about what happened in your crash, any losses you have suffered, and your injuries. They will answer the questions in first-person based upon the responses you give. They will then have you sign at the bottom of each page as the questions are completed. Signed statements are often several pages long. You are entitled to a copy of your statement, but you need to request it.

Most of the time, the adjuster will be completing the statement on triplicate carbon paper. Ask for a copy and they should be able to hand you one at the end of the interview. Trying to get a copy of your statement after the fact may be more difficult, so it is important for you to remember to ask for your copy immediately.

If you notice that corrections need to be made as you review each page, make certain to point them out. The adjuster should then make the correction and have you initial next to the change. Do not simply sign the bottom of each page without first reviewing what the adjuster wrote for your answers. At the end of the statement, you will probably be asked to provide your signature.

Recorded Statements

Many insurance companies are moving away from signed statements to recorded ones instead. Recorded statements may be done in person or over the telephone. In both cases, New Hampshire law requires that they get your permission to record what you have to say. In order to save on travel expenses for the adjuster, more companies are moving to recorded statements over the telephone. Besides travel costs, the company may also save additional money because the adjuster may take multiple recorded statements.

After the adjuster has your recorded statement, it may be sent to be transcribed. If you have given such a statement before hiring a Manchester personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC, we will request a copy of both the original recording as well as any typed responses you gave, or transcripts of the recording that has been prepared. This will allow our office to do a comparison to make certain that what is written accurately reflects your statement.

Contact an Experienced Manchester Personal Injury Attorney

Have you or a loved one been injured by another person’s careless acts? If so, it is essential that you have competent legal representation from the onset of your case through litigation. Big insurance companies have lawyers looking out for their interests and you should too!

For a free consultation, contact a Manchester personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC. We may be reached at 603-624-7200 or by email at info@MZLawNH.com. We may also be contacted by using the “contact us” or chat feature on our website.