Adjusters study those facts, in order to assess the degree to which a given claimant has suffered a loss.
Potential sources for facts of interest
• Accident report: Statement from policyholder/insured driver
• Contacts made with injured party/victim
• Copy of police report
• Adjuster studies the facts, while waiting to see whether or not the opposing party will file a claim.
If other party does file a claim, then the adjuster must issue a response
Provides the party that has filed a claim with details on the limits contained in the defendant’s policy. Asks the party that filed the claim to send the applicable documents:
• Medical records for any injured driver or passenger
• Proof of earnings for anyone that must stop working, while recovering from injury
Tries to dig up negative information on the claimant/victim:
• Has he or she ever filed any other claims? The answer to that question could be found in the appropriate database.
• Goes to Google, Facebook and other social media networks; checks to see what the claimant has posted on such a site.
• Could ask about getting a recorded statement, or authorization for release of victim’s medical records
What happens if some fact contradicts the contents of a different statement?
That would be evidence of an inconsistency in the victim’s story. Personal injury lawyers in Lethbridge and adjusters seize on such inconsistencies as evidence that the statement does not represent a truthful recollection of what took place.
Evidence of such an inconsistency can weaken the victim’s case. It provides the adjuster with a reason for reducing the size of any payoff. That observation highlights the wisdom behind a victim’s refusal to provide the adjuster with a recorded statement.
The same observation underscores the logic behind a lawyer’s request that his or her client should not post any statements of pictures on a social media network.
What actions could a claimant take, in order strengthen a given case?
Claimants have the ability to appeal to an adjuster’s emotions. An attachment to the demand letter that contained a photograph of the damaged vehicle should work to stir the adjuster’s emotions.
A reference to a challenge that had resulted from the accident’s effects could have a similar effect. For instance, the victim/letter-writer might mention the difficulties created in the family’s home life; due to the injury that one family member had suffered.
In order to illustrate those difficulties, the letter’s composer could mention the challenge posed to the family of a toddler that was driven to day care each day. If one of the drivers were injured, and one of the family’s vehicles were to become unusable, then it would be quite difficult to schedule a daily trip to and from the day care facility.