When the other driver’s insurer calls you
A day or two after a crash, an adjuster will probably call. Here is what to expect and what you can wait on.
Within a day or two of a crash, an adjuster for the other driver’s insurance company will probably call. They are polite, and they are not on your side. Their job is to settle claims for as little as the law allows.
What you do have to give
Your name, your contact details and the basic facts of where and when the crash happened. If you have your own insurance, you usually must tell your insurer about the crash promptly. Read your policy, or ask them how.
What you can wait on
- A recorded statement
- A medical authorization that opens all of your records
- An answer about how you’re feeling, which you may not know yet
- Any settlement offer or release
It is fine to say, “I’m not ready to give a statement yet,” and end the call. Write down the adjuster’s name, the company and the time.
Why “I’m fine” isn’t an answer
Neck, back and head injuries often take days to show. If you tell an adjuster you’re fine, that sentence can follow your claim for months.
If you’d like us to take the calls
We can write to the insurer so that they contact us instead of you. It is one of the first things we do for clients, and it usually ends the calls at dinner.