Be aware! Speaking to the claims adjuster for the other party in your accident is full of pitfalls.
If you the insurance adjuster for the other party call, you are under no legal obligation to discuss the accident with them. However, the adjuster for the other party will likely try to contact you to get a statement from you about how the accident happened and if there were any injuries.
Warning – Beware when the claims adjuster for the other party contacts you and wants to discuss any medical records to settle your claim. The other adjuster wants to get a statement from you so that they can construct a defense to fight your claim or to pay out as little as possible.
Some unscrupulous adjusters for the other party may contact an accident victim and pretend to want to help to settle the claim. What they are really doing is using the information they obtain from you to deny or minimize your claim.
Another reason to not discuss your medical condition with the other adjuster is that your injuries may not be fully known to you yet. You could provide an inaccurate portrayal of your injuries and damages. Adjusters will try to contact the other party in the accident so that they can get a good idea of what the case is worth and attempt to minimize what they payout.
If you have any doubts at all about whether or not to speak to the other adjuster, we recommend that you consult an experienced attorney. Once you tell the other adjuster that you have an attorney, they may not contact you again and must work through your lawyer.
The majority of car accident victims do not want to negotiate their own deal with a claims adjuster for the other party. Experienced car accident attorneys in Portland will usually negotiate a better settlement or judgment on your behalf.