What Not to Say to an Insurance Adjuster

After a car crash, dealing with an insurance company can feel like just another step in the claims process, but what you say to an insurance adjuster can significantly affect your car accident case. Insurance companies train adjusters to minimize claim payouts, and even small remarks—such as “I feel fine” or “I didn’t see the other car in time”—can be used to reduce or deny compensation.

Both your insurance company and the other party’s insurance company will look for ways to protect their bottom line. Adjusters may sound friendly, but their job is to gather information that could hurt your case.

How the Wrong Words Can Impact Your Claim

They can reduce or deny coverage for medical expenses. Saying “I wasn’t really hurt” could allow the party’s insurance company to argue that medical records directly contradict your initial statement.
They can shift liability. Admitting any fault—even slightly—can give the at-fault driver’s insurance company grounds to reduce your settlement offer.
They can weaken your claim for property damage. If you downplay the impact of the accident, the insurer may argue that your car accident attorney is inflating repair costs.

Knowing what not to say when speaking with an adjuster can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and damages to your vehicle.

Statements That Can Hurt Your Insurance Claim

Admitting Any Level of Fault

Liability in a car accident case is determined by evidence, not personal opinion. However, if you admit any level of fault, an insurance adjuster may use that against you to reduce your settlement.

Avoid saying:

“I didn’t see them until it was too late.”
“I should have been paying more attention.”
“I’m sorry for what happened.”

The other party’s insurance company will look for any statement that suggests you caused the accident—even if the police report does not support that claim. A safer response is:
“The investigation will determine what happened.”

Guessing or Speculating About the Accident

If you don’t remember a specific detail, never guess or speculate. Insurance adjusters ask questions that may pressure you into providing unnecessary information that can later be used against you.

Examples of statements that could be used to challenge your claim:

“I think they were speeding, but I’m not sure.”
“Maybe I didn’t check my blind spot fast enough.”

Stick to basic information and facts. If you aren’t sure, simply say:
“I can’t say for certain. The police report will provide the details.”

Downplaying Injuries

Some injuries—especially whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries—take hours or even days to fully develop. Saying “I feel fine” or “I wasn’t really hurt” can be used as evidence against your personal injury claim, even if new injuries appear later.

A safer response:
“I am still receiving medical treatment and will follow my doctor’s recommendations.”

This will make sure insurance adjuster does not downplay your medical expenses when evaluating your claim.

Agreeing to Release Your Full Medical History

An insurance company claims impacts how much they can access your medical records directly. Adjusters may request a blanket medical release, which allows them to look at prior injuries and argue that your pain existed before the car crash.

What happens if you sign a medical release without attorney representation:

The adjuster may argue that recent injuries were pre-existing conditions.
They could use past medical history to challenge your personal injury case.
They may try to lower or deny compensation based on previous medical treatment.

Only provide relevant medical records and consult a car accident lawyer before sharing any private medical details.

Why Insurance Adjusters Push for Quick Settlements

Insurance companies move fast when offering settlements, but that speed is rarely to the claimant’s benefit. The faster they close a claim, the less likely a person is to fully understand the long-term financial impact of their injuries. That’s why adjusters typically push for a settlement before medical treatments are complete or before all damages have been accounted for.

There are several reasons they do this:

They want to finalize the claim before an attorney gets involved. Once a claimant consults with a lawyer, the insurance company knows negotiations will likely lead to a higher payout.
They count on you underestimating their medical expenses. Some injuries don’t show immediate symptoms, and future treatment costs may not be obvious right away.
They want to settle before lost wages and ongoing financial strain become clear. Accepting a settlement too early could leave you struggling with expenses the insurer will no longer cover.

Once a settlement agreement is signed, there’s no way to go back and ask for more money—even if unexpected medical bills pile up later. That’s why it’s always a good idea to review the full scope of damages with an attorney before accepting an offer.

Giving a Recorded Statement Without Attorney Guidance

Insurance adjusters might ask you to provide a recorded statement and say it’s just a routine part of the claims process. However, there is no legal obligation to give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company.

Once a statement is recorded, it becomes part of the official claim file. Adjusters can compare it against police reports, medical records, and other documents to look for inconsistencies. Even minor wording differences can be used to challenge a claim.

How a recorded statement can weaken a claim:

If a claimant describes injuries differently than what appears in medical records, the insurer may argue they are exaggerating or misrepresenting their condition.
If the sequence of events in the statement does not perfectly match the police report, the insurer may claim the claimant’s memory is unreliable.
If the claimant downplays pain or symptoms early on, they may be denied compensation for medical treatment that becomes necessary later.

Instead of providing a recorded statement, you can say, “I prefer to provide written information after consulting with my attorney.”

Accepting the First Settlement Offer Without Reviewing Your Costs

Insurance companies usually move quickly after an accident and may offer a settlement before you fully understand the extent of their injuries. At first glance, a fast payout might seem like a relief—especially if medical bills are piling up. But early settlement offers tend to be far lower than what a case is truly worth.

Many people don’t realize how much an accident can cost over time. It’s not just the immediate hospital bills—there’s also the price of follow-up care, lost income, and long-term medical complications that may not appear right away.

Rushing to accept an offer could leave you covering:

Ongoing medical treatment that wasn’t factored into the initial payout
Rehabilitation or surgeries needed down the line
Lost income if injuries prevent returning to work as expected

Once an insurance company secures a signed settlement agreement, that’s the end of the claim. Even if new symptoms develop or additional medical expenses arise, there’s no going back to ask for more compensation.

Before making any decisions, it’s important to have a full understanding of the damages involved. Speaking with a car accident lawyer can help you determine whether the settlement truly covers their needs or if negotiation is necessary.

How Insurance Adjusters Use What You Say Against You

Insurance companies don’t just process claims—they look for ways to pay out as little as possible. Adjusters know that the right question, asked the right way, can lead to an answer that hurts your case. A simple remark, even one made in passing, can later be used to justify reducing or denying compensation.

This happens more often than most people realize. An adjuster might phrase a question in a way that steers the conversation toward an answer that benefits them.

They may try to get you to downplay your injuries. Instead of asking what treatment you’ve received, they could say, “It sounds like you weren’t badly hurt?” If you say, “I don’t think so,” that might be used to argue that medical care wasn’t necessary.
They might take your words out of context. If, in casual conversation, you mention, “I’m doing okay,” they could later point to that as proof that your injuries weren’t serious—ignoring the fact that you were just being polite.
They can push you to speculate. Questions like, “Do you think you could have reacted sooner?” seem harmless, but answering with anything uncertain—like “Maybe”—could be twisted into an admission of fault.

Adjusters are trained to listen for anything they can use to limit what they pay. The best way to protect yourself is to keep answers short and stick to the facts. If a question feels designed to trap you, there’s nothing wrong with saying, “I can’t answer that right now.”

What You Should Say Instead

Talking to an insurance adjuster can feel like walking a tightrope. Say too much, and they might twist your words. Say too little, and they might push harder for details. The best approach? Keep things short, neutral, and to the point—nothing more, nothing less.

If they start asking about fault or how the accident happened, there’s no need to explain anything beyond the basics. A simple, “The details are still being reviewed” keeps you from saying anything they can use later.

When they ask about injuries, avoid phrases that could downplay your condition. Instead of “I’m feeling fine,” go with “I’m continuing treatment as recommended by my doctor.”

And if they push for more details? It’s completely reasonable to say, “I’d rather go over everything with my attorney first.”

Even casual conversation can backfire. A simple, “I’m doing okay,” might be used to argue that you’re not really injured. The safest move? Say less. Stick to the facts. Let them fill in the silence.

Steps to Take After Speaking with an Insurance Adjuster

Once the conversation ends, what you do next matters just as much as what you said. A few smart steps now can prevent major headaches later.

Write it all down. Grab a notebook or open a notes app—record the date, time, and everything that was discussed. If an adjuster makes promises about covering certain costs, document it.
Keep your case off social media. A casual post about the accident—even something harmless—can be taken out of context. Adjusters look for anything they can use.
Don’t sign anything without reviewing it first. Medical release forms, settlement agreements—some of these documents give the insurance company more access than you’d expect. Before signing anything, have an attorney take a look.

The insurance company’s job is to pay out as little as possible—but a few careful decisions can keep them from using your own words against you.

Before You Say or Sign Anything, Think Twice

Insurance adjusters don’t hand out fair settlements just because it’s the right thing to do. They’re trained to settle claims quickly and cheaply, and once they get your signature, they’re done with you. Doesn’t matter if you’re still in pain a month from now. Doesn’t matter if you get hit with medical bills you weren’t expecting. Once you accept their offer, that’s the end of it.

That’s why waiting a little longer can save you a lot later. Don’t let them rush you. Don’t assume their first offer is anywhere close to what you actually deserve. And if they start asking for recorded statements or paperwork that gives them access to things they don’t need? That’s usually a sign you should stop talking and get some advice from someone who knows how to handle them.

Waiting isn’t about dragging things out or making things complicated—it’s about not letting the insurance company make all the decisions for you. Before you sign away your claim, make sure you’re the one calling the shots!