You just suffered an injury in a Mobile car crash. Now the insurance adjuster is calling your phone. They sound kind, concerned and very professional, but do not forget one critical fact: the adjuster works for the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Insurers do not prioritize your well-being. Their goal is to minimize the company’s financial payout or deny your claim altogether. Discussing your accident with them before consulting an attorney can destroy your entire case. You should be familiar with the common tactics they use.
The low-ball offer
Adjusters often call you immediately with a small, fast settlement offer. They want you to sign a release before you know the full cost of your injuries. This offer ignores future medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. The insurance company hopes you feel desperate and take the first check.
Hunting for your medical history
The adjuster will immediately request a blanket medical release form. This form allows them access to all your past health records. They want records even for conditions unrelated to your wreck. Their goal is to find a pre-existing condition and argue that it, not the accident, caused your current pain.
Tricking you into admitting fault
This tactic is their most potent weapon in Alabama. Adjusters ask leading or seemingly casual questions to make you admit partial responsibility, such as:
- “Were you distracted by your phone?”
- “What could you have done differently to avoid the wreck?”
Alabama operates under the strict contributory negligence law, where proof that you were even 1% at fault generally bars recovery of damages; however, exceptions exist for cases involving a defendant’s “willful or wanton conduct.” Refusing to answer their questions is critical to protecting your claim.
The endless delay
Adjusters often employ stalling tactics to prolong the entire process. They may ignore your phone calls, request unnecessary documents repeatedly or put your claim file “under review.” They hope you become financially desperate and accept a significantly lower settlement.
They also hope you miss the strict filing deadline, known as the statute of limitations, which is generally two years from the date of injury for most personal injury lawsuits in Alabama, but may be significantly shorter (e.g., six months for claims against a municipality) or subject to other exceptions.
Why contact a lawyer?
Insurance company adjusters are highly trained negotiators protecting the corporate bottom line. Skilled car accident lawyers understand that all these tactics—from quick low-ball offers to exploiting Alabama’s contributory negligence law—are designed to defeat your claim and deny you compensation and justice.
Do not fight this battle alone. If you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s crucial to contact an experienced lawyer who can fight on your behalf against the insurance company.