When it’s time to file your claim to the auto insurance company, it’s important to think about what you’re saying before you actually say it. In conversation certain things can be taken out of context and saying the wrong thing can turn what should be simple call into a drawn out nightmare.
When an insurance adjuster is reviewing your claim there will be certain “trigger” words that may indicate you don’t have a solid claim on your hands.
You never want to say more than what is necessary. When you say more than you have to, you open up opportunities to say the wrong thing, which could end up being counterproductive.
Tell the insurance company exactly what happened. Please hold back from elaborating or over explaining the situation. Simply tell the adjuster exactly what happened.
To help you in this process we go over 7 words you should refrain from telling your insurance adjuster;
1. I got whiplash!
Saying the word whiplash can alert the adjuster to a possibility of your claim being untrustworthy. Whiplash claims are common for scammers and always on high alert within an insurance company. Say whiplash and the adjusters first reaction may be to call the in-house counsel. Never self-diagnose your injuries. If you feel as if you have suffered from some sort of head trauma, seek medical attention immediately. Also keep in mind you should never speak to the other parties insurance company before you speak to your own.
2. I am sorry
A lot of us say “I’m sorry” out of habit. Even when we don’t have anything to be sorry about. If you say sorry after an accident you will automatically put yourself at fault. You should not admit fault or place the blame right after an accident. Allow the officer to make that determination. Saying “I’m sorry” after an accident may create confusion about the role you played in the accident, especially if you are not at fault.
3. Intentional
Insurance companies are designed to cover your bad luck or judgement, on most occasions they will not cover intentional acts. If your keys got locked in the car and you took a crow bar to the window to open your car, you should prepare yourself to pay for those damages.
4. My vehicle broke down / breakdown
Let’s say your car won’t start this morning or your wheel breaks. You will not have a normal auto insurance claim. You will have a mechanical breakdown on your hands. Breakdowns are covered through “mechanical breakdown insurance”. Most if not all breakdowns will not be covered in your regular old auto insurance policy, unless you specifically added “mechanical breakdown insurance” to your policy.
5. I’m fine
“I’m fine” is another habitual word a lot of use even if we are not fine. Or we use the term as reassurance to others. Too often we may see someone come out of a vehicle that was just involved in an accident and the first thing they say is “I’m fine”. Let a medical professional determine whether or not you’re fine, before you mention anything to the insurance company or anyone else for that matter.
6. Off-premises
Often the words “off-premises” indicate that the problem you have is not cover by your insurance policy. Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a non-profit group that helps consumers, tells of a man who told his insurer that his water damage may have been caused by a backup from an outside sewer rather than a problem inside his property. The insurer told him that the damage had to originate on-premises or it wasn’t covered. The case went to court, but the owner lost.
7. Coincidence
You’re going to set off alerts if you insist an unusual incident is just a coincidence.
“It’s just a coincidence my car ended up in the middle of nowhere and mysteriously caught fire”. The first thing an insurance adjuster will think is your car fire was more intentional than a coincidence. Do yourself a favor and remove the word coincidence from your vocabulary when speaking to the adjuster.