What The Insurance Adjuster Does When You File An Auto Accident Claim
If you have never been in an accident or you just did and you are curious as to what role the insurance adjuster plays, you will want to continue reading. There are a few things you can expect from the insurance adjuster. Some of those things include:
They Conduct Interviews
The insurance adjuster will want to speak with you, the other driver, and any witnesses of the accident. The adjuster will also get a copy of the police report from the accident and any photos that were taken by the police. They do all of this in an attempt to verify the cause of the accident. It's important because they need to know which insurance company is actually obligated to pay for the repairs.
They Inspect Your Vehicle
Once the insurance adjuster has all of the reports, interview answers, and photos, they will want to inspect your vehicle in person. They will look for evidence of old damages, which would not be covered by the insurance company. They will take additional photos and get an estimate from the auto body repair shop. That estimate is then turned over to the insurance company, which is in charge of making sure that the bill is paid.
They Can Help You Get Better Estimates
If you do not like the estimate given at the one auto body shop, you can object to it and ask for estimates from other nearby auto body shops. This can be important because even though the insurance company is paying for the repairs if the cost of repairs is too close to the value of the vehicle, the insurance company can consider the vehicle totaled. If you would rather the vehicle be fixed instead of being sent to the junkyard, you will want to see if you can get better estimates from other auto body repair shops. Otherwise, you could end up getting a settlement check and you will have to start shopping around for a new vehicle.
As you can see, the insurance adjuster has an important role to play. Make sure that you are available to speak with the adjuster whenever they need more information for you. Your auto insurance company should be able to let you know when you can expect to hear from their insurance agent. It's a process that takes a couple of steps but it is important to follow through so you can get your vehicle repaired.
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