Car insurance companies looking into a straightforward and/or minor accident may rely on a police accident report, photos from the scene, and of the damage to quickly determine fault and resolve a claim. A more complex case may trigger an insurer to do a deeper investigation.

A more intense examination of the details might involve getting witness testimony, hiring accident reconstruction teams, and bringing in medical experts to determine how long an injury may take to heal.

What Will Insurance Adjusters Examine as They Investigate My Car Accident?

Insurance adjusters will be using evidence to determine fault and for helping to help gauge how much a settlement check should be written for. Unfortunately for innocent drivers, adjusters can try to use their investigation to shift blame from their policyholders or question the seriousness of the victim’s injuries.

Not every accident receives the deepest investigation, though. When an accident isn’t terribly complex and won’t exceed a certain dollar amount, insurers may only do a basic check of the facts and seek to offer a settlement.

But when fault is being disputed in a case, or it’s a complex accident, the investigation may go longer and be more thorough. An accident involving more serious injuries and a higher price tag may also trigger a bigger investigation.

These are just a few of the steps an insurance company will take when investigating fault in an accident:

-Assign an Adjuster. An adjuster may be assigned to your case, or several adjusters may handle your case. They may gather documents from you, such as your medical receipts. They’ll track down any witnesses. And they’ll look to contact the drivers involved and take statements.

–Interviews with Drivers and Recorded Statements. Adjusters will call the victims and seek recorded statements over the phone, talking about what happened. But beware. Insurers can twist the words victims say to hurt their cases later. Maison Law recommends that victims only give basic information over the phone and decline to give recorded statements. It’s better to refer the insurer to your California car accident lawyer.

-Check Your Story and Social Media. Adjusters may also check your social media posts to see if your posts about an accident are consistent with what you’ve reported. A social media post may also be used to question your injuries if you are shown taking part in strenuous activities. Some car insurance companies will even have a private investigator follow you to monitor your activities. Maison Law recommends that victims not post to their social media while they are trying to navigate an accident claim.

-Investigate the Scene and the Vehicles. Adjusters or experts may visit the scene of an accident and review the damage to the vehicles in detail.

-Accident Reconstruction Teams. Insurers will usually have their own preferred teams of accident reconstructionists. These teams examine the angles and pavement markings to determine speeds and positions of the cars involved. They might also look at the debris to determine what happened. A Maison Law attorney can also call in a reconstruction team to make sure it’s done correctly.

-Police Accident Reports. Insurers will rely on a Los Angeles Police Department report or one written up by the CHP. However, if the report isn’t favorable to the insurer’s policyholder, they will challenge the findings. Police reports aren’t the final word, and insurers can look to get them thrown out if it helps them save money.

-Examine the Medical Evidence. The time it takes for the victim’s injuries to heal and the care they may continue to need will play a big role in the size of a settlement. It’s no wonder insurers will try to devalue an injury as much as possible. They can also hire their own doctors to examine victims and to say their injuries aren’t as serious as they seem. A lawyer can work with your own doctors to fight back against these shady medical practices.

What Will Trigger a Deeper Investigation from a Car Insurance Company?

There are a few circumstances that are sure to result in a more extensive investigation from a car insurance provider. These investigations can, unfortunately, prolong the time you have to wait for a settlement check.

These are a few of the things that might lead to a deeper investigation:

• A more complex accident, i.e., more vehicles involved
• An accident where fault is in question
• A more serious injury involved and higher medical bills
• A permanent physical disability is involved, and the potential for a lifetime of support
• Someone involved in the accident seems to provide conflicting information or purposely misleading testimony
• Someone who has made a string of claims in a short amount of time

Support for California Accident Victims

If you or a loved one is seriously injured due to the carelessness of another driver, discuss your options with a real California car accident lawyer. We provide a free, no-obligation consultation to all traffic accident victims.

We can help if another driver’s car insurance provider seems to want to blame you for what happened or tries to question how badly you are hurt. These are often tactics meant to rob you of support or get you to accept less in a settlement check. We fight back on your behalf. We seek the most possible for your claim while giving you a stress-free time to focus on getting better.

If you do feel we can help you earn more, you won’t need to find any money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the money a car insurance company is forced to pay you.