An insurance claim adjuster is a professional expert who is well-trained in its field of work which includes exceptional negotiation tactics. Hence, you need to be careful and well-prepared beforehand if you want to succeed in negotiating and getting a fair settlement amount.
Before you delve into the tips of negotiating with the insurance claims adjuster to get a fair settlement, it’s important to first understand his/her role in the settlement. This will help you avail yourself of fair compensation.
Role of Insurance Claims Adjuster
Represent the Insurance Company
An insurance claims adjuster is a skilled negotiator trained to represent the interests of your insurance company. Its primary goal is to ensure that your insurance company fulfills its obligation to provide you with the financial assistance you deserve in accordance with your policy coverage.
After you notify your insurance company about the accident, the company sends a professional insurance claims adjuster, and then the adjuster-
Investigate the Claim
An adjuster conducts thorough investigations to assess the validity of the claim and determine the extent of coverage your policy holds against the loss or damage, following which he/she-.
Determine Settlement Offers
Based on the findings about the damage you/your property suffered and the extent of coverage your insurance policy holds, the insurance claims adjuster proposes settlement offers that they believe are fair and reasonable.
It may be as per your expected estimate or may not be (which is generally the case). In the case where the settlement offered by the insurance claims adjuster is not according to your estimate of loss/damage, you are required to negotiate.
Follow the following effective tips on how to negotiate a settlement with an insurance claims adjuster.
Effective Tips For Dealing With Insurance Adjusters
Tip #1 Provide Accurate Information
Be honest and transparent in your dealings with the adjuster. Document damages thoroughly and stick to the facts.
The insurance claims adjuster may motivate you to talk about the incident so much so that you as a claimant may get tricked into putting forth the speculations.
These speculations work against you and have a direct impact on your settlement offer. Hence, It is strongly advised to stick to the facts and facts only.
Tip #2 Keeping Detailed Records
Maintain a record of all communication and documentation related to the claim to support your arguments. It is important to have proof of phone calls, emails, and even in-person meetings with your insurance claims adjuster. These proofs can be in the form of photos and videos of damages and loss for example in fire loss, estimates, receipts, or recordings of the conversations.
Having proof ensures you are being served with what is promised to you and that all the parties involved are true to their words.
Tip #3 Understanding Your Policy
It’s crucial to note before initiating your negotiation on the settlement you familiarize yourself with the terms of your insurance policy. It will help you to better understand your coverage, entitlements, and even limitations or exclusions. It will further help you fortify your counterargument to represent your interest.
Tip #4 Being Assertive yet Respectful
Advocate for fair compensation assertively while maintaining a professional and respectful demeanor. Negotiation is a skill that is acquired by many professionals after getting full-fledged training in it. It implies that this skill requires you to be very precise with your words, and actions.
Hence, being assertive yet respectful and polite is one of the tips for dealing with insurance adjusters that can help you make or break a fair settlement. Clearly articulate your needs and concerns, and provide supporting proof that you’ve collected to justify your claim.
Tip #5 Beware of Lowball Offers
Be wary of initial lowball offers and be prepared to stand your ground or seek alternative avenues if necessary.
As the representatives of the company, an insurance claims adjuster‘s first role is to put the interest of the company ahead of yours. For this, after assessing the damage and loss they put forth a settlement under which you’ll get the least amount possible.
For instance, the settlement may propose a repair method for the salvaged property that isn’t sustainable in the long run, potentially leading to shortening the lifetime of that item.
To deal with such a situation, conduct an independent assessment of the damage and loss you’ve suffered and get an estimate and the best possible repair method. It will help you present your argument with confidence.
If you feel the settlement offered is way below your estimates you can always seek professional help.
Seeking Professional Assistance
Hire professionals to deal with professionals. If negotiations become challenging or overwhelming, seek assistance from public claim adjusters who ensure your rights are protected.
Public claim adjusters are well equipped with the knowledge and all the tips on how to negotiate a settlement with an insurance claims adjuster. The best thing is that public claim adjusters stand for your interest like we do at Claims Public Adjusting.
We, at Claim Public Adjusting, are a highly trusted team of expert public claim adjusters in Texas. We have been helping people with their insurance settlements for years. We keep your satisfaction at the forefront. Not only that we proudly operate on our commitment to no recovery no fee.
Let’s get you a Fair Settlement now!
