If you have been injured or forced to file a claim with your insurance company for any number of reasons, most likely you want to see action as soon as possible, in the form of insurance company investigations. This could be the case for many different types of claims, but incidents where someone has been injured—and perhaps seriously—tend to be the most sensitive. Finances may be extremely tight too if you have been harmed due to the negligence of others and suddenly cannot work or must stay home to care for a family member who is suffering.
Car accidents are a typical example. If you were hit by another motorist who may have been reckless for any number of reasons ranging from distracted driving to drunk driving, drowsy driving, speeding, or more, it could be that the insurance adjuster for the other party is on top of things at an alarmingly fast speed. They may be calling immediately, asking for police reports, medical documents, and squeezing you for information regarding any injuries. Although they are doing their job and can be quite good at seeming like they care about your well-being, most adjusters are skilled at what they do. This often includes receiving extra compensation for settling for as little as possible and clearing out cases as quickly as possible.
Investigation begins with the obvious, in finding out details about the case. And while the adjustor may want to get much of the information from you, this is where you will need to refer them to your auto accident attorney (or, if the insurance agency is denying your claim in bad faith, consult with a skilled insurance lawyer from a firm like the Bolender Law Firm). Along with information from law enforcement who were on the scene and any medical professionals who treated you, the adjuster will probably want to talk to witnesses if contact information is available for any of them too. They may request photos from the accident as well as asking to look at your car and take more pictures for their files. The adjuster will often visit the scene of the accident for further documentation.
Once they have finished their investigation, the adjuster will arrive at a settlement amount. This may be much less than what they should pay you, which is why you need an experienced attorney to represent you. If the insurance company does not seem to be investigating the accident or if they have presented you with a lowball offer, there is the possibility they are acting in bad faith. If you suspect your insurance company may be denying your claim in bad faith, contact the attorneys at the Bolender Law Firm.
If a dispute over a claim cannot be easily resolved through a call or written communication, our attorneys will advocate on behalf of policyholders through litigation, arbitration, or non-binding mediation. Our attorneys are experienced in representing clients in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate level. Call us at 310-320-0725 now or submit an easy consultation request online. We are here to help!