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Dealing With Insurance Companies After an Accident
The insurance adjuster on the other end of the phone is friendly. They sound concerned. They want to “help you get this resolved quickly.” What they actually are, and what they’re paid to do, is protect their employer’s bottom line by paying you as little as possible. That isn’t a critique of any individual adjuster; it’s the reality of how the claims process works. Knowing what to expect, what to say, and when to stop talking is one of the most important things any Missouri accident victim can do.
Two Insurance Companies, Two Very Different Conversations
After most accidents, you’ll deal with two insurance carriers: your own and the at-fault driver’s. The relationships are not the same.
Your Own Insurance Company
- You have a contract with your own insurer. Your policy generally requires:
- Prompt notice of the accident
- Cooperation with the investigation
- Truthful answers to reasonable questions about the loss
Provide basic facts: date, time, location, parties involved, your understanding of the damage and injuries. Stick to facts you actually know. Don’t speculate about fault or guess at the speed of the other vehicle.
The Other Driver’s Insurance Company
You have no contract with the other driver’s insurer and no obligation to give them a recorded statement, answer their questions, or sign anything. The adjuster works for the company that may have to pay you, and everything you say is going to be used to evaluate (and reduce) your claim.
What an Adjuster Is Actually Doing
Adjusters are trained negotiators with one mission: close the file for as little money as possible. Common tactics include:
- The early, “generous” offer. Quick settlement offers are not kindness — they’re a strategic effort to close your case before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
- Recorded statements. Adjusters ask leading questions designed to lock you into a version of events that favors them. Any inconsistency between your statement and later medical records will be used against you.
- Wide-open medical authorizations. Adjusters often request broad authorizations to pull years of unrelated medical records, looking for pre-existing conditions to blame your symptoms on.
- Delay. Some adjusters slow-walk responses hoping you’ll get frustrated, run out of money, or miss the statute of limitations.
- “Soft tissue” minimization. Whiplash, sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries are routinely categorized as minor, regardless of the actual diagnosis.
- Property damage arguments. “The bumper damage is minor, so the injury can’t be serious” — an argument biomechanical evidence repeatedly disproves.
- Social media surveillance. Adjusters screenshot Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok looking for posts that contradict your injury claims.
- Lowballing pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is the largest part of most serious claims and the easiest for adjusters to undervalue.
What to Say and What Not to Say
Do:
- Provide identifying information (name, contact info)
- State the date, time, and location of the accident
- Confirm you were involved in the accident
- Say that you are seeking medical treatment and don’t yet know the full extent of your injuries
- Refer questions about fault, injuries, and case value to your attorney
Don’t:
- Speculate about how the accident happened
- Estimate speeds, distances, or timing
- Discuss your medical history beyond the current injuries
- Describe your injuries in detail before treatment is complete
- Agree to a recorded statement without legal advice
- Sign anything
The Two Documents You Should Never Sign Without Legal Review
1. A Release
A release ends your claim, permanently. Once signed, you cannot reopen the case even if your injuries turn out to be far worse than you initially realized. Releases are often presented alongside a settlement check and characterized as “just a formality.” They are not.
2. A Medical Authorization
A signed medical authorization gives the insurance company access to your medical records. The narrower it is, the better. Wide-open authorizations let adjusters pull years of unrelated records looking for ammunition against you. An attorney can review what’s reasonable to provide and what isn’t.
Missouri Insurance Law Basics
Under RSMo § 303.190, Missouri requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Those are minimums — many policies carry higher limits, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage adds another layer when the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your losses.
If an insurance company is acting in bad faith denying a clearly valid claim, refusing to investigate, or refusing to settle within policy limits when liability is clear, Missouri’s vexatious refusal to pay statute, RSMo § 375.420, allows recovery of the amount owed plus interest, reasonable attorney’s fees, and a statutory penalty.
When to Stop Talking to the Adjuster
If you’ve been seriously injured, dealing with adjusters yourself is rarely a good idea. The moment to bring in an attorney is generally:
- After any significant injury (see our guide on when to hire an attorney)
- Whenever a settlement offer is made before treatment is complete
- Any time an adjuster pressures you for a recorded statement
- When the insurance company is denying liability or stalling
Once you’re represented, the adjuster will deal with your attorney, not you. That alone changes the dynamic of the negotiation.
How Adjusters Behave Differently in Different Cases
The dynamics shift based on the type of case. Truck accident carriers often dispatch rapid-response teams to crash scenes within hours, gathering evidence specifically to defeat injury claims. Rideshare crash cases involve overlapping policies that change based on the driver’s app status. Hit and run cases shift the focus to uninsured motorist coverage. Each type has its own playbook.
Talk to a Missouri Personal Injury Attorney
If an insurance company is pressuring you for a statement, stalling on your claim, or offering a settlement that doesn’t feel right, get a second opinion. Contact Schmittgens Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.