What Is an Insurance Adjuster’s Role in a Car Accident?
An insurance adjuster handles all stages of the claims process for the insurance company after a car accident.
- Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for accident victims
- They investigate the accident, determine fault, and assess damages
- Adjusters review evidence (police reports, photos, medical records, repair estimates)
- They assign fault percentages and decide on the settlement amount
- Their goal is to minimize the insurer’s payout and settle claims within policy limits
It is important to remember that the insurance adjuster is not on your side. You need an accident lawyer in Roseville, CA that can protect you from their tactics that reduce valid payouts.
Steps an Insurance Adjuster Takes After a Car Accident
When a claim comes in following a car accident, the insurance adjuster is responsible for examining details about both fault and damages.
Investigating the Crash
First, the adjuster’s focus is to gather comprehensive evidence of every aspect of the incident. The goal is to determine how the collision occurred, identify injuries and damages, and review the available insurance coverage for all involved. They commonly review the following evidence:
- Police reports
- Photos and videos of the scene
- Witness statements
- Medical records
- Repair estimates
- Surveillance footage if available
An adjuster will look at any evidence that they believe will help them determine what happened.
Determining Liability
Insurance adjusters look closely at the facts and California’s legal standards to establish who was responsible for the crash. Fault disputes may focus on alleged speeding, distracted driving, unsafe lane changes or merging, failing to yield, and other dangerous behaviors on the road.
California uses a pure comparative negligence system that permits fault to be split among multiple drivers, even if the injured victim was partly to blame. Part of the adjuster’s job is to allocate fault among the parties.
Calculating Damages
Along with determining who is at fault, the insurance adjuster calculates the damages related to the crash. Their calculations include reviewing:
- Temporary or permanent injuries and how they impact daily activities and work ability
- Necessary and reasonable medical treatment and costs
- Lost income now and in the future
- Repair or replacement value of the damaged vehicle
- Out-of-pocket expenses like medication, ongoing care, therapy, or medical equipment
An adjuster is trained to add up these losses and evaluate what the insurance company may offer to resolve the claim.
Insurance Adjusters and Recorded Statements
After a car accident, insurance adjusters often ask claimants to give a recorded statement. This statement records your version of events and details about your injuries. What you say can influence how your claim is handled and may be used to reduce, dispute, or deny parts of your claim, especially if there are inconsistencies or admissions of fault.
You are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company in California. It is safest to speak with a Roseville distracted driving accident attorney before agreeing to any recorded statement. Legal advice can help you avoid saying something that might hurt your claim or affect your settlement later.
If you have any questions about an insurance claim or what you should do next, our team is available to assist. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.