Should I Talk to the Insurance Adjuster After an Accident in Roanoke?

Short answer: you must notify your own insurance company about an accident — but you are under no obligation to give the other driver’s insurance company a statement, and you probably should not. Within days of a Roanoke crash, an adjuster will call sounding friendly and helpful. Understand what that call is really for.

Why the Adjuster Sounds So Friendly

Insurance adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to close your claim for as little as possible. The early phone call has two purposes: to get a recorded statement they can mine for inconsistencies, and to gauge whether you have a lawyer. In Virginia, where pure contributory negligence can erase a claim over even 1% of fault, a single offhand remark — “I did not even see him coming” — can be spun into an admission that costs you everything.

What to Say (and Not Say)

• Give the basics: date, time, location, vehicles involved.
• Decline a recorded statement from the other side until you have legal advice. You can be polite: “I am not giving a statement at this time.”
• Do not guess or speculate about speeds, distances, or fault.
• Do not say you are “fine.” Many injuries surface days later, and that word will follow your claim.
• Do not sign medical authorizations that open your entire medical history to the insurer.

The Quick-Check Trap

Adjusters sometimes offer a fast, modest settlement before you know how badly you are hurt. Cashing that check usually releases your claim forever. Before you accept anything, read my guide on handling insurance adjusters after a Virginia car accident and what to avoid saying to the insurance company.

Let a Lawyer Do the Talking

The moment a Roanoke personal injury lawyer takes your case, every adjuster call comes to us instead of you — and the tone changes, because now there is a trial threat behind your claim. Contact Lugar Injury Law for a free consultation before you return the adjuster’s next call.