If you’ve been injured in a car accident, truck crash, motorcycle wreck, slip and fall or any other type of accident in Missouri, the insurance company is not your friend. They may act polite. They may sound “helpful.” In this article, we are going to explain how to deal with insurance adjusters after an accident.
But make no mistake: their job is to minimize your payout — or deny your personal injury claim altogether.
At Sansone & Lauber, we’ve spent decades going toe-to-toe with insurance companies on behalf of injury victims across Missouri. We know their playbook. We know their tricks. And we know how to beat them at their own game.
This guide exposes what insurance adjusters don’t want you to know and shows you exactly how to protect yourself — and your injury claim — after an accident.
If you want full compensation, read carefully. And if you’re serious about winning, get an experienced Missouri accident lawyer in your corner from day one.
Table of Contents
What Is an Insurance Adjuster?
An insurance adjuster is a trained claims handler whose job is to evaluate and settle accident claims. They work for the insurance company, not for you.
There are three types of adjusters:
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Company Adjusters – Employed directly by the insurance company.
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Independent Adjusters – Contractors hired by the insurer.
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Public Adjusters – Hired by YOU to assess your damages (rare in personal injury).
When you’re injured in a car crash, truck accident, motorcycle wreck, or slip and fall in Missouri, the adjuster assigned to your case will contact you quickly — sometimes within hours. That’s not an accident. It’s a strategy.
The Insurance Adjuster’s Real Job: Deny or Delay Your Claim
Insurance adjusters are not paid to be fair. They are trained to save money for the company — at your expense. Every dollar they don’t pay you is a win for them.
Their tactics include:
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Twisting your words to use against you
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Downplaying your injuries
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Pressuring you to settle fast before you know the full extent of your damages
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Delaying or stalling your claim until you give up
They know you’re vulnerable. That’s when they move in to strike.
What NOT to Say to an Insurance Adjuster
When the phone rings and it’s the insurance company, what you say — or don’t say — can make or break your case. Here’s what to never say:
“I’m fine.”
“I don’t need medical treatment.”
“It was my fault” or “I think I caused it.”
“I wasn’t hurt that badly.”
“I don’t have a lawyer.”
Even innocent phrases like “I’m okay” can be twisted into an admission that you weren’t seriously hurt. And once you say it, it’s on the record.
Instead, tell them:
🛑 “I am receiving medical treatment and my attorney will be in touch.”
What Insurance Adjusters Don’t Want You to Know
Here’s what the insurance company won’t tell you:
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You don’t have to talk to them. In fact, you shouldn’t — not without a personal injury attorney on the line.
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You don’t have to give a recorded statement. They want this to trap you later.
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You may be entitled to way more than they offer. Especially for future medical care, pain and suffering, lost earning potential, and more.
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Their first offer is almost always lowball. And it’s designed to get you to sign away your rights.
Recorded Statements: Just Say NO
Insurance adjusters will often say something like:
“We just need a quick recorded statement to move forward with your claim.”
What they really mean is:
“We need a recording so we can find ways to deny, delay, or reduce your compensation.”
Never give a recorded statement without an experienced injury attorney present. They are not for your benefit — they’re a trap.
Should You Accept the First Settlement Offer?
Absolutely not. The first offer from an insurance company is always too low — sometimes laughably so.
Why?
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They assume you’re desperate for cash.
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They hope you haven’t seen a doctor yet.
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They think you won’t fight back.
Once you accept and sign, your case is over. No matter what injuries show up later, you’re stuck.
At Sansone & Lauber, we’ve reviewed thousands of lowball offers from Missouri insurers. We routinely recover 5 to 10 times more than the original offer — and sometimes even more when we take the fight to court.
How a Missouri Injury Attorney Protects You
An experienced personal injury lawyer levels the playing field.
Here’s what we do the second we take your case:
-Stop all contact between you and the insurance company
-Handle all communication, negotiation, and evidence gathering
-Calculate the full value of your injuries, lost income, and future care
-Prepare every case like it’s going to trial
-Fight to get you every dollar you’re owed
The insurance company knows our reputation. When they see Sansone & Lauber on your case, they know they can’t get away with tricks or lowball tactics.
Common Tactics Adjusters Use (And How to Crush Them)
1. Delay, delay, delay
They’ll stall your case hoping your bills pile up and you’ll accept any offer.
✅ We force deadlines and keep pressure on.
2. Deny medical treatment
They’ll claim your injuries are “pre-existing” or “not related.”
✅ We use medical experts and documentation to prove causation.
3. Pressure you to settle before treatment is done
They want you to settle cheap before you know the full cost.
✅ We don’t settle until we know every dime you’re entitled to.
4. Surveillance & social media stalking
They may watch your social media or even hire investigators.
✅ We advise clients to go dark and stay smart.
What To Do If the Insurance Company Won’t Cooperate
If the insurance adjuster:
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Stops returning calls
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Delays your payment
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Denies your claim without explanation
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Blames you unfairly
You may be facing insurance bad faith — which is illegal in Missouri. That’s when the insurance company deliberately mishandles your claim.
At Sansone & Lauber, we take bad faith seriously. When they play dirty, we play harder. We pursue full compensation — and sometimes additional penalties — for clients victimized by bad faith insurance practices.
When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Missouri
You need an accident lawyer immediately after:
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A serious injury or hospitalization
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A death in the family due to an accident
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An adjuster contacts you
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You’re offered a settlement
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Your claim is denied or delayed
The sooner you call, the more we can protect your rights.
Why Missouri Injury Victims Trust Sansone & Lauber
We’re not here to play nice with insurance companies.
We’re here to fight for the injured — and win.
Our record speaks for itself:
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Millions recovered for injury victims across Missouri
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Aggressive negotiation with every major insurance carrier
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Trial-ready litigation when the adjuster won’t play fair
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Client-first service with real communication, every step of the way
If you’ve been injured in Missouri, you don’t have to face the insurance company alone. We’re here to go to war for you.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve More Than the Insurance Company Will Offer
The bottom line is simple:
Insurance adjusters are not on your side.
They are trained to pay you as little as possible — or nothing at all. Without a skilled Missouri injury attorney protecting your claim, you risk losing thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars in rightful compensation.
Don’t fall for their tricks. Don’t take their bait.
Call Sansone & Lauber today.
Let our experienced team of Missouri personal injury lawyers take over your case and force the insurance company to pay what you truly deserve.
Call Now for a Free Case Evaluation
📞 (314) 863-0500
📍 Serving clients in St. Louis and across Missouri
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