Insurance Adjusters Are Not Your Friends: 5 Tactics They Use to Lower Your New Haven Auto Accident Settlement

After a car crash, you may expect the insurance company to be helpful, neutral, and focused on making things right. That assumption is one of the biggest mistakes people make after a New Haven auto accident. Insurance adjusters are trained professionals whose primary job is to protect their company’s bottom line. They may sound friendly and reasonable, but their incentives rarely align with your best interests.

Understanding the most common tactics adjusters use can help you avoid costly missteps and protect the value of your claim.

Here are five of the most common strategies insurance adjusters use to reduce settlements.

• They push for a quick statement
Soon after the accident, an adjuster may call and ask for a recorded statement. They often frame this as a routine step to “get your side of the story.” In reality, these statements are carefully reviewed for anything that can be used to question fault, minimize injuries, or suggest inconsistency. Even innocent comments like “I didn’t see them” or “I feel okay so far” can be used later to weaken your claim.

• They minimize your injuries
Adjusters frequently downplay injuries, especially soft tissue injuries like whiplash or back strain. If there is little visible vehicle damage, they may argue that your injuries could not be serious. They may also suggest that pain is normal and will resolve on its own, subtly discouraging you from seeking ongoing medical care.

• They delay the process
Delays are not accidental. By dragging out the claim, insurers hope you will become frustrated or financially pressured. As medical bills pile up and time passes, many people feel tempted to accept a lower settlement just to be done with it. Delay is a powerful tool when someone needs money for treatment or missed work.

• They question medical treatment
Another common tactic is to argue that your treatment was unnecessary, excessive, or unrelated to the accident. Adjusters may claim you waited too long to see a doctor or that you received more care than the injury required. This is especially common when symptoms appear days after the crash, which is actually very normal.

• They make a low initial offer
The first settlement offer is often far below the true value of the claim. It may sound reasonable if you are unfamiliar with injury cases, especially when paired with statements like “this is the best we can do” or “most people accept this.” Once accepted, you typically waive the right to seek additional compensation, even if your condition worsens.

These tactics work because people are stressed, injured, and unfamiliar with the claims process. Insurance adjusters handle these situations every day. Most accident victims do not.

The key takeaway is this: friendly does not mean fair. After a New Haven auto accident, protecting yourself means being cautious about what you say, documenting everything, following medical advice, and understanding that the insurance company’s goals are not the same as yours. Knowledge is one of the strongest tools you have, and using it early can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your claim.