If you’ve been in a car crash, chances are good you’re already dealing with an insurance adjuster who sounds like they want to be your new best friend. They’ll check in on you, ask how your family’s doing, and tell you they’re “just trying to help.”
Let’s not kid ourselves: they are not your friend.
Their only loyalty is to the insurance company — and their #1 goal is to save that company money by paying you as little as possible.
I’m Marc Lopez, an attorney based in Indianapolis, and I’m here to walk you through how insurance adjusters try to take advantage — and how you can protect yourself. Let’s get into it.
Trick #1: The Friendly Adjuster
Adjusters are trained to sound caring. They’ll call you constantly, ask personal questions, and sympathize like they’re your favorite aunt.
“How’s the pain today?”
“Hope you’re getting some rest!”
“Can’t believe that driver rear-ended you — terrible!”
But every single thing they say is strategic.
When you start feeling comfortable — like you’re chatting with a friend — you’re more likely to:
- Downplay your injuries
- Admit things that hurt your case
- Make small concessions that seem harmless but can destroy your claim later
Example:
They’ll ask, “You’re feeling better today, right?”
You say, “Yeah, a little.”
Suddenly, they’ll use that one sentence to argue you weren’t really hurt.
Or they’ll casually bring up blame:
“Don’t you agree that maybe you could’ve been driving a little slower with the road conditions?”
You think you’re just being polite. They think they just got you to admit partial fault — which can dramatically reduce the value of your claim.
Key takeaway:
You’re not talking to a friend. You’re talking to a professional negotiator whose job is to pay you less. Treat them accordingly.
Trick #2: The Recorded Statement
Another classic trap:
“Before we can move forward with your claim, we just need a quick recorded statement. It’s routine.”
Sounds harmless, right? Wrong.
Once that record button is pressed, everything you say becomes locked in stone — even if you’re confused, stressed, or trying to be polite. Adjusters are trained to:
- Get you to minimize your injuries
- Dig into your past health problems
- Trap you into inconsistencies
- Make you hesitate, then use that against you
Example:
They might ask, “The pain isn’t that bad, right?”
You, being human, hesitate because you’re trying to figure out how to answer honestly.
“Oh, you’re hesitating? Must mean you’re lying!”
And if you accidentally say something imprecise — like “I guess I’m feeling okay today” — they’ll use that to argue you’re magically healed.
Important:
- Never give a recorded statement without talking to a lawyer first.
- Never assume the adjuster is just trying to “speed things up.”
- Always remember: recorded statements exist to help them, not you.
Trick #3: Disputing Your Medical Treatment
Once they get any information out of you — recorded or otherwise — the next phase kicks in: attacking your medical care.
They’ll say things like:
- “You said you felt better after a week — why are you still getting treatment?”
- “Didn’t you have back problems ten years ago? This probably isn’t even from the accident.”
- “Isn’t it excessive to still be seeing a doctor?”
Their goal: make you doubt your own treatment and minimize what you’re going through.
Here’s the truth:
In Indiana, when someone causes a crash, they “take the victim as they find them.”
If you had a pre-existing condition that’s now worse because of the crash, that’s the at-fault driver’s responsibility.
Even if your back wasn’t perfect before the accident, if the crash made it worse, you’re entitled to compensation for that aggravation.
Key point:
If you’re hurting, get medical treatment. Period. You have a duty to yourself, your family, and your future to heal properly — not to save the insurance company money.
Trick #4: Delay, Deny, Defend
If being fake-friendly doesn’t get you to settle cheap, the adjuster will move on to the next set of tactics: delay, deny, defend.
- Delay:
“We need more documents.”
“We’re waiting on more information.”
“We can’t move forward without your full medical history from 20 years ago.”
They want you frustrated, desperate, and financially exhausted. - Deny:
“We’ve reviewed everything and decided our driver wasn’t at fault after all. Good luck.”
They’ll deny responsibility out of nowhere, forcing you into a corner. - Defend:
Even when they know they’re wrong, they’ll dig in and fight, banking on you giving up because it’s too much stress.
Why do they do this?
Because the longer they delay, the more pressure you feel. Eventually, they hope you’ll take a lowball offer just to make it stop.
Don’t fall for it.
This is exactly when you need an experienced injury lawyer to step in and turn up the heat — not back down.
Trick #5: The Quick Settlement Trap
Here’s a dirty little secret about insurance companies: they’re more than happy to throw fast cash at you — if they know your injuries might get worse later.
Within days (sometimes hours) of your crash, the adjuster might offer you $2,000, $5,000, maybe even more:
“Sign this release, and the money’s yours. Plus, we’ll cover your treatment. Sound good?”
It sounds good because you’re hurting, you’re worried about money, and you just want things to get back to normal.
They know this.
They’re counting on it.
But here’s the catch:
- Once you sign that settlement release, it’s game over.
- If you later find out you have a herniated disc, a concussion, a fractured bone — too bad.
- You cannot reopen your claim or ask for more money later.
Example:
We had someone call us after she settled for $5,000, thinking she was doing the smart thing. Three weeks later, an MRI revealed a hairline fracture. Too late — she was stuck with a lifetime injury and no legal recourse for additional compensation.
Key takeaway:
If an adjuster is offering you quick cash, it’s not because they’re generous — it’s because your case is worth a lot more.
Your Case Is Worth More Than You Think
Insurance companies know the longer you hold out, the stronger your case gets:
- More time for injuries to show themselves
- More time for real medical records to build up
- More time for the true cost of your crash to be revealed
That’s why they work so hard to get you to settle early.
You deserve full and fair compensation — not a quick check that leaves you struggling later.
Make the Right Call
Dealing with a car crash — plus work, plus family — is overwhelming enough without fighting a billion-dollar insurance company that’s actively working against you.
You don’t have to do it alone.
At the Marc Lopez Law Firm, we know the tricks insurance companies use. We see it every day. And we know how to fight back and get you the compensation you deserve.
Call us today at 463-842-1724.
Let us turn your frustration into compensation — and help you get your life back.
Remember:
The insurance adjuster isn’t your friend.
But we can be.
