How to Handle Insurance Adjusters After a Personal Injury

After a personal injury—whether a car accident on Meeting Street, a slip in a West Ashley store, or a workplace mishap in Charleston’s port—filing an insurance claim is often your next move. You’re hurting, bills are piling up, and you just want relief. Enter the insurance adjuster, the person tasked with sorting out your claim. They might call sounding helpful, even sympathetic, but don’t be fooled: their job is to save their company money, not to hand you what you’re truly owed. Navigating this process can feel like a minefield, especially when you’re already stretched thin.

For victims in Charleston, South Carolina, and across Georgia, Taylor Anderson of Taylor Anderson Law Firm offers a lifeline. A Charleston-based personal injury attorney since 2008, Taylor’s battled insurers in cases from James Island to Augusta, securing fair compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and pain. In this guide, we’ll break down what insurance adjusters do, share must-know tips for dealing with them, and show why a seasoned Charleston personal injury lawyer can turn the tables in your favor.

What Is an Insurance Adjuster?

An insurance adjuster is the company’s front-line player after your accident. Assigned to your claim, they:

• Investigate the incident (who, what, where)
• Assess fault and liability
• Estimate damages—medical bills, car repairs, lost income
• Propose a settlement to close the case

They might chat you up like a friend, asking about your day or your injuries, but their loyalty lies with the insurer’s bottom line. Taylor Anderson, with years facing off against adjusters in South Carolina and Georgia, knows their playbook—every question’s a probe, every offer a calculation to pay you less.

Tips for Handling Insurance Adjusters After an Injury

Do Not Provide a Recorded Statement

The first call often includes a request: “Can we record your version of the accident?” Say no. Anything you say—offhand or flustered—can be twisted to shrink your claim. “I didn’t see them coming” could become “You weren’t paying attention.” Politely decline: “I’d prefer to speak through my attorney.” Taylor’s seen recordings sink cases; he keeps you clear of that trap.

Be Cautious About What You Say

Adjusters fish for slip-ups. A casual “I’m doing okay” after a Mt. Pleasant crash could morph into “Your injuries aren’t serious.” Stick to facts—date, location, basics—and skip the chit-chat. Taylor advises keeping it tight: “I was hurt; I’m getting treatment; talk to my lawyer.”

Do Not Accept the First Settlement Offer

That quick offer after a Folly Beach fall? It’s a lowball, designed to settle fast before you tally future costs—therapy, surgeries, or pain that lingers. Taylor’s clients have faced offers covering a fraction of their losses. Hold off; let him crunch the real numbers and push back.

Avoid Signing Any Documents Without Legal Review

“Sign here for your medical records” or “This settles it”—those forms can bite. A medical release might let them dig through unrelated history, claiming a bad knee from 2015 caused your limp, not the Johns Island wreck. Taylor reviews every line, ensuring you don’t sign away rights.

Keep Detailed Records of All Communications

Log every adjuster call:

• Date and time
• Their name and number
• What they said (and you said back)

A notebook or phone note works—Taylor’s used these logs to catch adjusters contradicting themselves, strengthening claims from Charleston to Georgia.

Follow Your Doctor’s Orders and Continue Treatment

Stopping PT after a West Ashley slip or skipping meds signals “not injured” to insurers. Stick with your doctor’s plan—every visit builds your case. Taylor’s seen gaps in care tank settlements; consistency pays off.

Let an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Handle Negotiations

Why go it alone against pros? Taylor Anderson, with a University of Georgia Law degree and nearly 20 years in the game, knows their moves—past insurance defense work taught him how they think. From Mt. Pleasant car wrecks to Charleston construction defects, he negotiates so you don’t get steamrolled.

Common Insurance Adjuster Tactics to Watch For

Adjusters have a toolbox of tricks—here’s what to spot:

• Delaying the Claim Process: Dragging it out—lost paperwork, slow responses—hoping you’ll cave from exhaustion. Taylor’s relentless; he keeps them moving.
• Requesting Excessive Medical Documentation: Asking for years of records to hunt for pre-existing issues. Taylor limits their fishing expeditions.
• Blaming You for the Accident: “You should’ve swerved” in a James Island crash—shifting fault to cut your payout under South Carolina’s 51% rule. Taylor counters with evidence.
• Minimizing Your Injuries: “Bruises heal fast”—downplaying a TBI or chronic pain. Taylor’s medical proof shuts that down.
• Pressuring You to Settle Quickly: “Take this now or lose it.” Taylor knows your full damages unfold over time; he won’t let you rush.

Taylor’s Lowcountry roots—he’s lived on James Island since ’08 with wife Michelle and kids—fuel his fight against these corporate plays.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dealing with Insurance Adjusters

Q: What if an adjuster calls me?

A: Be polite, give basics (date, place), but skip details or recordings—“My attorney will handle it.” Taylor steps in from there.

Q: Should I talk to the other driver’s insurer?

A: No—let Taylor deal. One wrong word could tank your claim; he shields you.

Q: What if they deny my claim?

A: Not the end—Taylor appeals, digs deeper, or litigates if needed. He’s won denials before.

Q: Can I negotiate myself?

A: You can, but adjusters outmatch most folks. Taylor’s leveled the field for clients across two states—better odds with him.

Q: How long do I have to file in South Carolina?

A: Three years from the accident (two in Georgia). Taylor confirms your clock.

Work with an Experienced Charleston Personal Injury Lawyer

Insurance adjusters aren’t your allies—they’re gatekeepers to your recovery, trained to keep cash in their pockets, not yours. Going solo risks lowballs, denials, or worse. Taylor Anderson, a Charleston personal injury lawyer with a knack for outsmarting insurers, changes that. From car accidents in West Ashley to slip and falls in Mt. Pleasant, he’s secured millions for clients across South Carolina and Georgia—State and Federal Courts, no less.

Born in Augusta, now a James Island local, Taylor’s not just a suit—he’s a neighbor who gets it, from boating mishaps to nursing home fights. Hurt and facing adjusters? Contact Taylor Anderson Law Firm today for a free consultation. Serving Charleston, Folly Beach, Johns Island, and beyond, Taylor handles the calls, the tactics, the fight—so you get every dime you deserve. Call now—don’t let them win.

Posted on behalf of Taylor Anderson Law Firm