After a car accident, the insurance adjuster’s goal is to make more money by paying out less. Unfortunately, it’s not to look out for you. Asking the right questions early on can reveal a lot about whether an adjuster is being fair, and whether you need an attorney in your corner. Below are five questions to ask an insurance adjuster after a car accident in Tennessee, and what their answers actually mean.
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1. Will You Give Me a Copy of the Recorded Statement Your Insured Gave You?
If an insurance company is willing to give you a copy of the statement their insured provided when reporting the crash, that’s a sign they’re dealing with you honestly. It’s not a one-way exchange of information.
What did their driver say about who caused the wreck? Did they accept responsibility, or did they try to shift blame? These are things you have a right to know.
If the adjuster refuses to share this, it should raise a red flag about how fairly they intend to handle your claim, and it should lead directly into the next question.
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2. Will You Guarantee, in Writing, That You Won’t Try to Blame Me for the Wreck Later?
If you were rear-ended on the interstate or hit by someone who ran a red light, you already know you weren’t at fault. The adjuster may know it, too; but they’re counting on you being nervous enough to say something that can twist the truth and get you in trouble.
A stray comment like “I saw them pull out but thought they’d stop” can be used to argue you had time to avoid the crash, shaving 25 percent or more off the value of your claim.
Importantly, you are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s liability insurance adjuster. They may claim it’s “policy” or “procedure,” but it is not the law, and they still owe you full compensation whether or not you agree to be recorded.
Note: Your own insurance company is a different matter. Your policy typically requires you to cooperate, including giving a statement, or your claim could be denied. Even then, be careful what you share — your own insurer isn’t always on your side either.
3. How Much Insurance Coverage Did Your Insured Have at the Time of the Accident?
This is information Tennessee insurance companies routinely keep close to the vest. Adjusters often claim it’s against policy to disclose the at-fault driver’s coverage limits, but that’s a company choice, not a legal requirement.
This matters because Tennessee’s minimum required liability coverage is only $25,000 per person, and many accident victims run up medical bills well beyond that amount. Knowing the available coverage early helps you and your lawyer understand what’s realistically on the table. An adjuster who shares this information is being straightforward with you; one who won’t is not.
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4. Will You Pay My Outstanding Medical and Emergency Room Bills Now?
Adjusters frequently insist they can only pay medical bills “at the end of the case.” That’s not accurate — there is no law preventing a liability insurance company from making advance payments toward medical expenses. At GriffithLaw, we have obtained advance payments from liability carriers for clients many times. Insurance companies simply prefer not to do it.
Don’t accept advice to route everything through your own auto insurance’s Medical Payments coverage instead. That guidance often benefits the at-fault driver’s insurer more than it benefits you, and it’s coming from a company whose interests are opposed to yours.
5. Will You Reimburse My Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Lost Wages?
Every mile matters and every dollar counts. At a minimum, the at-fault driver’s insurance company should cover co-pays, prescriptions, mileage to and from medical appointments, and lost wages. Again, no law stops them from doing this before your case resolves; it’s a business decision, and often a deliberate one.
One of the reasons they don’t pay until the very end of your case is for one reason only, and you need to know this: They are trying to starve you out. Insurance companies frequently delay payments because a financially strained claimant is more likely to accept the first low-ball offer. Keeping you in debt and out of a paycheck is their tactic. After all, every dollar they save is a dollar you lose.
For a free legal consultation, call (615) 807 7900.
What to Do If the Adjuster Isn’t Being Straight With You
Asking these five questions — even to an adjuster who seems perfectly pleasant — is one of the fastest ways to gauge how fairly your claim is likely to be handled. If you’re getting evasive answers, blanket “policy” excuses, or pressure to give a recorded statement, it may be time to get an attorney involved before you say something that gets used against you.
At GriffithLaw, we talk to insurance adjusters every day so our clients don’t have to navigate these tactics alone. We investigate liability, identify all available insurance coverage, and push back when an adjuster tries to delay or minimize a valid claim. And we never collect a fee unless we recover compensation for you.
If you or someone you care about are dealing with an insurance adjuster, even a “nice and good” one, I would urge you to see just how fair and honest they are being with you. Let me know what you find out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to give the insurance adjuster a recorded statement?
No. You are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s liability insurance adjuster, even if they tell you it’s required. You typically are required to cooperate with your own insurance company, per your policy.
Can the adjuster use my statement against me later?
Yes. Adjusters are trained to look for small admissions — like acknowledging you saw the other car before the crash — that can later be used to argue you share some fault, even in a clear-cut accident.
Why won’t the adjuster tell me the at-fault driver’s coverage limits?
It’s typically a company policy, not a legal restriction. Some adjusters will share this information if asked directly; others won’t unless pressed by an attorney.
How soon should I contact my own insurance company?
It’s no surprise that accident victims sometimes hesitate before calling an insurance company. Between the stress of the collision itself and the confusion around policy requirements, many drivers put off that call. However, GriffithLaw advises clients to report the accident as soon as possible, ideally within 30 days of the crash. Waiting longer than that can make the claims process more difficult and may give the insurance company grounds to question the claim.
What to have ready before you call:
- Name as it appears on the policy
- Policy number
- Year, make, model, license plate number, and VIN of your vehicle
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
- Copy of the police report, if it’s ready
- Details about the accident, including: time, date, location, and names of other parties involved
- Photos or videos from the scene
- Witness contact information
Having this information ready can help move the claims process along and support a fair recovery for the damages you’ve suffered.
If you or someone you care about is dealing with an insurance adjuster after a Tennessee car accident, call GriffithLaw at (615) 807 7900 for a free case evaluation.
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