What Auto Insurance Adjusters Are Trained Not to Tell You
One of the first things adjusters are trained not to disclose is whether they believe your injuries are legitimate. Even if an adjuster privately doubts your pain, suspects exaggeration, or believes your injuries are unrelated to the crash, they are unlikely to tell you upfront. Instead, they may: Act sympathetic Ask seemingly casual questions about your daily activities Delay decisions while quietly building a case to devalue your claim Why does this matter? Because many people unknowingly damage their own case by oversharing, minimizing symptoms, or failing to seek timely treatment—without realizing the adjuster already doubts their injury claim. Insurance adjusters are trained not to volunteer any information about their insured that could strengthen your claim. That includes: Prior accidents involving their insured A history of traffic violations Previous claims for reckless or unsafe driving Prior insurance cancellations or coverage issues This information can be extremely important in establishing fault patterns or credibility. However, unless required by formal discovery in litigation, adjusters have no obligation to share it, and they won’t. Another major omission involves insurance policy limits. Adjusters are trained not to disclose how much insurance coverage is available unless there is an obvious limits issue—such as catastrophic injuries that clearly exceed coverage. In many cases, they will deflect questions about limits or avoid answering them altogether. Why? Because knowing the policy limits changes negotiating power. If you know there is substantial coverage available, you are less likely to accept a low settlement early. Keeping you in the dark benefits the insurer. At Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers, we have our own capabilities of finding out the policy limits. Adjusters are trained to request recorded statements as early as possible—and for good reason. These statements are not just about gathering facts. They are designed to: Lock you into specific wording Highlight inconsistencies Create opportunities to argue partial fault Minimize the severity or duration of your injuries Questions may sound harmless, such as: “How fast were you going?” “Did you see the other vehicle before impact?” “Were you feeling okay right after the crash?” A single poorly worded answer can later be used to argue that you contributed to the accident or that your injuries were minor. Even when an adjuster seems to accept fault early, they often reserve the right to revisit liability later. This is rarely explained clearly. Adjusters may proceed with property damage or rental coverage while still investigating fault. If new information arises—or if negotiations escalate—they may attempt to shift blame or reduce responsibility. Early settlement offers are not acts of goodwill. They are calculated. Adjusters know that: Injuries often worsen weeks or months after a crash Many people are under financial stress Medical diagnoses are incomplete early on Offering quick money—often $5,000 to $10,000—can close a claim before its true value is known. What they won’t emphasize is that once you accept, the case is permanently closed, regardless of future medical needs. When an insurance company settles a claim, they require a signed release—or include release language on the settlement check itself. Adjusters are trained not to fully explain that: A release is final Future medical expenses are not covered New diagnoses do not reopen the claim Complications or surgeries later mean nothing legally Once the release is signed or the check is deposited, your rights are gone forever. Throughout the claim, adjusters are quietly documenting everything: Gaps in treatment Missed appointments Social media activity Delays in reporting symptoms Inconsistent statements They are trained not to tell you how these details will be used to argue that you are not seriously injured or that your pain is unrelated to the accident. Many adjusters adopt a friendly, conversational tone. This is intentional. They are trained to gather information during casual discussions—comments that may later appear in claim notes or be used to justify a lower settlement. Even off-the-record conversations are rarely truly off the record. Perhaps the most important thing adjusters are trained not to say is the truth about their role. Liability auto insurance adjusters do not work for you. They work for: Their insured The insurance company The company’s financial bottom line Their job is to limit exposure and protect policy limits, not to ensure you are fully compensated. Auto insurance adjusters are professionals doing exactly what they are trained to do. The problem arises when injured people mistakenly believe those adjusters are neutral or on their side. Understanding what adjusters are trained not to tell you empowers you to protect yourself—by being cautious with statements, avoiding premature settlements, and seeking experienced legal guidance when needed. In many cases, the difference between a low settlement and full compensation comes down to knowing the rules of a game that was never designed to be fair in the first place.They Won’t Tell You If They Don’t Believe Your Injuries
They Won’t Disclose Information That Helps You—Even If It’s Relevant
They Won’t Tell You the Policy Limits (Most of the Time)
They Use Recorded Statements to Create Fault Arguments
They Won’t Tell You That Liability Can Still Be Disputed Later
They Won’t Tell You That Early Settlement Offers Are Strategic
They Won’t Explain the True Consequences of a Release
They Won’t Tell You They’re Building a File Against You
They Won’t Tell You That “Friendly” Conversations Are Still Evidence
They Won’t Tell You They’re Not There to Help You
Final Thoughts