What to say to an insurance adjuster after a crash

By the time an adjuster dials your number, they’ve already read your file. You haven’t read theirs. Knowing that gap, and closing it, changes how the whole call goes.

What they’re holding before the phone even rings

The adjuster usually starts with the crash report, your policy file, and a repair shop’s damage estimate already in hand. None of that requires anything from you. Getting a copy of that same report yourself tells you exactly what they’re already reading before you ever talk to them.

What only you can hand them

Three things stay out of their reach until you give them up: your account of what happened, your full medical timeline, and your signature on a release. Guard all three. Once any of them is out, there’s no taking it back.

What not to say

Skip anything that guesses. Don’t estimate a percentage of fault, don’t describe injuries you haven’t had checked yet, and don’t confirm a number on the spot. Stick to what you’re certain of: where you were, what you saw, and when it happened.

Can you negotiate without a lawyer?

Sometimes, honestly, yes. A small claim with clear fault and modest bills can often get resolved without help. It gets harder once the adjuster disputes fault or your treatment is still ongoing, since what actually sets that number takes on more moving parts than most people expect going in.

Protecting what’s already yours

Keep your own log: who called, when, and what got said, in your own words right after you hang up. If the case feels bigger than a phone call can settle, whether hiring one changes anything for your situation moves through the honest signals worth weighing. And if the call comes before you’ve even finished the basics, the first-hour choices that shape a claim tallies what actually protects you before any adjuster picks up the phone.

They’ve done thousands of these calls. Borrow experience that matches theirs before you answer the next one.