If you have just been into a car crash, you have added a lot to your to-do list. Now, if this is your first time getting into a car accident, you probably don’t know what to do – but – you are smart enough to go on the internet to figure out things. So, be prepared to deal with the other person’s insurance company.
Here are some of the important questions that the other person’s insurance adjuster will never want you to ask.
Ask About the Possibility of a Car Rental
If your car has been damaged due to the other person, you can ask the insurance adjusters about the possibility of getting a car rental. Even if you don’t have car rental insurance on your own policy – the at-fault person’s insurance company will give you a rental for the time your car is being repaired.
Even if the at-fault person doesn’t have car rental insurance on their own policy, their insurance company will put you in a rental anyway.
Ask For the Compensation for the Loss of Use of Your Car
Another thing that you can ask the insurance adjuster is whether you can get paid for the loss of use of your own vehicle. You can even ask this question when you aren’t intending to use a rental. You might not even need a car every day as you might be working from home, or perhaps your injuries keep you homebound.
But – if you aren’t at fault, you can get paid the daily car rental rate. Speaking of injuries that you might sustain due to the accident, we recommend getting in touch with the Southfield Personal Injury Lawyer, that is, if you reside in Southfield. The personal injury lawyer will absolutely ensure that you get money for the bills, treatments, and pain.
Nonetheless – the fact is that even if you aren’t using your car due to injuries or any other issue because the at-fault person crashed into your car – you can make them pay every dollar you are owed.
Ask them About the Value of Your Totaled Car
If your car has been totaled due to the accident, you should ask the insurance adjuster whether you have to accept the value they say your totaled car is worth. The thing is that you never have to accept the value that the insurance adjusters will try to make you accept for your totaled car.
It is in your best interest to look up the value of your car on NADA and then compare the price with what the car dealers in your area are selling the make and model for. What it will do for you is that now you will have two very persuasive numbers to challenge the lower value that the adjusters will try to tell you that your car is worth.
Ask them About the Insurance Policy Limits
When dealing with the adjuster about the personal injury that you suffered in the crash – you should ask the insurance adjusters about their insurance policy limits. The policy limit will be the highest amount that the insurance company will pay for a claim that the insurance policy covers.
At this point, you might be wondering about the meaning of what we just said. Think about it this way: suppose the at-fault person who hit your car has a policy 2550. In this case, it will mean that the insurance policy will pay the maximum amount of $25,000 per person and at least $50,000 per accident.
By getting the answer to this question, you will be able to know if the at-fault person’s insurance will cover the damage and the harm caused to you.
Ask them About their Work Experience
Another great question that you can ask your insurance adjusters is about their work experience and how long they have been adjusters. New insurance adjusters who have been on the job for less than five years are usually on a short leash when it comes to negotiating a settlement. Often, new adjusters will need to get a supervisor to improve any potential increases to their offers.
On the other hand, experienced adjusters who have been in the industry for more than five years tend to have higher settlement authority. They might be willing to negotiate a higher number if they feel like they can close the deal.
On that note, you might want to ask the adjuster whether their supervisor has ever overridden any of their settlement offers. By asking this question, you will put the adjuster on notice that you are willing to speak to their boss for a higher number if you feel they are offering you less money.
The thing is that no one likes it when their boss has to get involved, which is why this question can result in them upping their offer just to avoid the boss’s involvement.
Ask About the Reserves on the File
You might be wondering what reserves are. When a person is involved in an accident, the insurance adjusters will make an initial guess of what they think the value of your personal injury case is worth. Usually, this amount is set aside and reserved for your case.
Reserves are inherently closely guarded company secrets, and the insurance adjusters will never tell you this information. But – you should ask this question anyway because it will then let the adjusters know that you know about reserves. They will know that you are a little bit more savvy than most. Of course, you always have the option to hire a lawyer, which is also the best option, as lawyers know all of the hidden tricks that insurance adjusters play to save their end.
Nonetheless, if you still have to deal with the insurance adjusters on your own, then asking this question will help you and set a certain impression.
Final Thoughts
Apart from asking all of the above-mentioned questions, you can ask the insurance adjuster whether they have even increased their offer once a lawsuit has been filed. If the adjuster has been in the industry for a while, their usual answer will be “yes.” However, you should know that filing a lawsuit is never a guarantee that you will win more money. But – you can certainly leverage this question as a way to tell them to stop fooling around and offer the right value.
