You’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t talk to an insurance adjuster after an accident. But what if the adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company calls you? Can you actually say anything you want without consequences?
Insurance adjusters love to call people after accidents and try to trick them into saying something that will harm their claim. Here’s what you should — and shouldn’t — say if an insurance adjuster calls you after a crash.
Has an insurance adjuster already called you about your accident?
Most people stumble through it, try to be polite, and say far more than they should. It feels like a normal conversation. It’s not.
Law enforcement recorded over 6.18 million motor vehicle crashes throughout the US in 2024. Those collisions are estimated to have left 2.42 million people injured. Almost every single one of those claims began with the same question… Did you call your adjuster?
Here’s the problem:
The adjuster is not your employee. They want to process your claim quickly and pay you the least amount of money possible. Nice? Yes. Working for you? Absolutely not.
Every word you say can be used to shrink your payout.
The good news? There are a few easy rules that you can follow to protect your claim, whether it was caused by a car accident or a slip and fall.
Time to dive in!
What’s inside this guide:
- Why Adjusters Call So Fast
- 5x Things That Are Safe To Say
- 5x Things You Should Never Say
- Recorded Statements: The Hidden Trap
- When To Hand The Phone Over
Why Adjusters Call So Fast
Speed is part of the strategy.
Why do adjusters love to call you while you are still sore, stressed and confused? You haven’t seen your doctor for a follow-up. You are not aware of how serious your injuries are. And you likely have not spoken with a lawyer.
That is the perfect moment for them.
Think about it:
If you say “I feel okay” and they have you recorded, that statement can haunt you all the way through settlement. It doesn’t matter if you are in more back pain two weeks later.
A Slip And Fall Lawyer Sees The Same Tricks
It’s not just car crashes. Retailers, landlords, businesses of every kind… they all have insurance companies, and they read from the same playbook.
Talk to any slip and fall lawyer. They will all say the same thing. One mistake on that initial phone call can cost you thousands on the value of your case and the adjuster knows that.
Which is why so many injured victims talk to a slip and fall attorney or car accident lawyer before they ever call back.
5x Things That Are Safe To Say
Here’s the deal…..You do need to provide the adjuster information. If you don’t respond at all it will delay your claim. Keep it short, factual and dull.
Stick to these 5x safe topics:
- Your contact details: Your name, address and phone number. Nothing more.
- Your insurance information: Your insurer’s name and your policy number.
- The basic facts: When, where and what happened. Vehicles involved in the crash.
- The police report number: Let the official report do the talking for you.
- Your treatment status: “I am currently under the care of my physician” allows for late developing injuries.
That’s it. Pretty simple, right?
If a question probes further than these topics, you can politely state that you would rather respond in writing. That is perfectly acceptable.
5x Things You Should Never Say
This is where most claims go wrong…
Adjusters learn to ask open-ended questions in a friendly way. “How are you feeling today?” seems compassionate. It’s a trap.
“I’m Fine”
Many injuries (whiplash, concussions and back strain for example) have delayed symptoms. Simply telling an insurance company you’re “fine” on day two means they have justification for denying you treatment on day ten.
Try this instead: “I’m still getting checked out.”
“It Was My Fault”
NEVER apologize. Ever. Not even for a little bit. Even “Excuse me” can be misconstrued as an apology.
Fault isn’t determined by your emotions over a phone call. Police reports, evidence and the law decide.
Guesses About Speed Or Distance
“I thought I was going like 40?” If you’re not certain, don’t speculate. Estimates become “facts” quickly in your claim file.
Your Full Medical History
The adjuster might inquire about prior injuries or previous doctor visits. Stay focused on this accident.
And never sign a blanket medical release. They’ll use years of records to find something to blame your pain on.
“Yes, I’ll Take It”
First offers tend to be low offers. Research from the Insurance Research Council found that the average payout on bodily injury claims increased from roughly $14k in 2017 to over $20k in 2022. There’s rarely enough information available when making that first offer to value a claim properly.
Once you accept and sign, your claim is closed. For good.
Quick offer = Low offer.
Recorded Statements: The Hidden Trap
Adjusters will often ask to “record the call for accuracy.”
It seems harmless enough. However, a recorded statement is one of the insurance companies most powerful weapons. They can play it back, use slight variations to discredit your entire statement.
You can politely decline:
“I do not feel comfortable providing a recorded statement at this time. Please submit written questions.”
Remember: The other driver’s insurance company can’t usually require you to provide a statement. Your own insurance company is another matter — policies typically require cooperation. Read your policy (or consult an attorney) before refusing.
When To Hand The Phone Over
Some claims are straightforward. A minor scrape in a parking garage with no injuries? You can likely settle that on your own.
But if you’re hurt, the stakes go up fast.
Others are catching on. As of 2022, nearly 50% of claimants hired an attorney, up from 40% in 2017. Previous IRC studies also showed that nearly two-thirds of those who reached out to an attorney, did so within one week of their accident.
It makes sense to hand the calls over if:
- You were injured and are still getting treatment
- The adjuster is hinting that you were to blame
- The insurer keeps delaying or denying your claim
- You got an offer that feels far too low
- You were hurt in a fall on someone else’s property
OK, here’s a quick look at that last one. Insurance companies love to tell property owners that you should have “watched where you were going.” A slip and fall attorney can dispute that with surveillance video, cleaning records and incident reports.
And once you have an attorney, the adjuster must communicate through them. No more late night phone calls.
Bringing It All Together
When an adjuster calls, it can feel like he is just catching up with you. He’s not. This is the first step in negotiating your settlement.
To quickly recap:
- Stick to the basic facts
- Never say “I’m fine” or admit fault
- Don’t guess or share your full medical history
- Decline recorded statements (for now)
- Never accept the first offer on the spot
- Get help if you’re injured
Be brief. Be accurate. And if unsure, refer to someone else.
Insurance regulations vary by state. Please consider this information to be guidance only, not legal advice.