What is the claims adjuster’s role in the auto insurance claims process?
The claims adjuster's role in the auto insurance claims process is to investigate your claim. An insurance adjuster decides how much money the insurance company gives you after a claim and can negotiate with policyholders and lawyers to reach a fair settlement. However, remember that the claims adjuster doesn't work for you and has the insurance company's interests in mind.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insurance...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
UPDATED: Jun 29, 2023
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jun 29, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- A claims adjuster, also called an insurance adjuster, decides how much money a policyholder should get after a claim
- Claims adjusters often negotiate with policyholders and other people involved in auto accidents
- Communicating with claims adjusters is an important part of the claims process
A claims adjuster, also called an insurance adjuster, evaluates information after an accident to decide how much compensation a policyholder should get. They often negotiate with policyholders and lawyers to agree on a fair settlement.
Understanding the role of a claims adjuster can help you communicate with your adjuster and make your claim more successful. It’s an important part of learning how to file an auto insurance claim.
In this article, we’ll discuss the claims adjuster’s role in the auto insurance claims process and how to communicate with them.
Table of Contents
A Claims Adjuster’s Role in the Auto Insurance Claims Process
An auto insurance claims adjuster has many duties, including:
- Inspecting damage to vehicles and property
- Speaking to drivers and other witnesses
- Reviewing documents and other evidence like photos
- Determining the cause of an accident
- Deciding how much compensation the people involved in an accident should receive
If another driver caused an accident, your insurance adjuster may negotiate with that person’s insurer to help you get a larger payment. You can also communicate with another driver’s insurance adjuster directly.
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Types of Claims Adjusters
There are three types of auto insurance claims adjusters. Public adjusters work for the person making the claim. They help you get as much compensation as possible for damages or injuries, and they usually charge 10% to 20% of the total payment.
Many of the biggest insurance providers employ staff adjusters, also called company adjusters. They try to keep payments as low as possible to help the insurer save money and increase profits, and they sometimes negotiate with public adjusters.
An independent insurance adjuster represents the insurance company as an independent contractor, and they may also work for other insurers. Smaller organizations often hire independent adjusters temporarily after an accident.
Communicating With Insurance Adjusters
It’s important to keep the objectives of your auto insurance adjuster in mind. Unless you have a public adjuster, the claims adjuster’s goal is to make payments from your auto insurance company as low as possible.
These professionals look after the insurance company, not you. You can increase your chances of success by providing as much evidence as possible. This often includes:
- A police report
- Photos of damages and the scene of the accident
- Contact and insurance information for other drivers
- An estimate of repair costs from a mechanic
Avoid admitting fault for an accident or saying anything that could make your claim settlement lower. If your insurance adjuster asks questions that you’re not comfortable answering, consider consulting a lawyer.
Claims adjusters often speak with people as soon as they can after an accident, and you may need some additional time to calm down and process your experience.
You don’t have to make a statement to an insurance adjuster, and you shouldn’t let them record your description of the accident. You should also learn how to check the status of an auto insurance claim.
When your adjuster makes an offer to settle your claim, you can negotiate by showing evidence that your expenses are higher than the amount offered. With most auto insurance, you’ll need to pay your deductible.
This means that any payment from your insurance company won’t cover all your expenses. Payments can’t exceed policy limits, either.
Understanding the Role of an Insurance Adjuster
An insurance adjuster decides how much compensation you get after an accident. People often interact with public claims adjusters and adjusters who work for their insurance companies. If another driver caused an accident, a third-party claim could be necessary.
You would communicate with a claims adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company. You can compare insurance options and make sure that adjusters can meet your needs by getting affordable instant auto insurance quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wait to file an auto insurance claim?
People in most states can wait up to two or three years after an accident to start an auto insurance claim. Waiting lets people get medical treatment and find out the full cost of their injury before making a claim. It can also provide time to track down a driver who refuses to give their contact or insurance information.
Are claims adjusters’ decisions final?
If you don’t agree with your claims adjuster’s decision, you can ask for a reevaluation of your claim. Explaining why you think you should receive a larger payment and supporting your arguments with documents can often help you get more compensation.
If needed, you can consider filing a lawsuit to increase your payment.
Do claims increase insurance rates?
Insurance claims can often increase your car insurance rate. If repair costs are low, paying them without using your auto insurance can help you keep rates down.
Some auto insurance companies offer accident forgiveness for people who haven’t made a claim in a while, and others offer a claims-free auto insurance discount. The rules vary depending on the organization.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insurance...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.