If you’re dealing with an accident claim in New York, you’ll likely hear from an insurance adjuster early on. Their job is to evaluate your injuries, review your medical records, and ultimately decide what your claim is “worth.” But make no mistake—adjusters work for the insurance company, not you. Their goal is to pay as little as possible.

As a Long Island personal injury attorney, I’ve seen the same tactics over and over again. Understanding how adjusters operate can help you avoid mistakes that weaken your case and ensure you’re protecting your right to a fair recovery.

How Insurance Adjusters Evaluate New York Injury Claims

Adjusters look at several factors when assessing a claim:

• Medical records — the type, timing, and consistency of your treatment
• Injury severity — whether your injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold (for car accidents)
• Medical bills and lost wages
• Liability — whether they can argue you were partly at fault
• Insurance policy limits

While this looks straightforward, adjusters often use strategies designed to reduce your payout—sometimes before you even realize it.

Common Insurance Tactics to Minimize Your Payout

1. Asking for a Recorded Statement

One of the first requests you may hear is: “We just need a quick recorded statement.” This sounds harmless, but it’s anything but.

Adjusters use recorded statements to:

• Lock you into early statements before you know the full extent of injuries
• Get you to downplay pain, symptoms, or limitations
• Ask confusing, leading questions designed to shift blame

You are not required to give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement. Talk to an attorney first.

2. Searching Your Social Media

Insurance companies routinely monitor social media for posts they can use against you. Even harmless posts—like attending a family gathering or smiling in a photo—can be twisted to argue your injuries aren’t serious.

Best practice: set your accounts to private and avoid posting until your case is resolved.

3. Using “Gaps in Treatment” Against You

Adjusters love to point to any delay in seeking treatment or any gaps between appointments as “proof” that you must not be seriously injured. In reality, people delay treatment for normal reasons—work, childcare, finances, or simply hoping the pain will go away.

Still, insurance companies rely heavily on this argument, which is why consistent and documented medical care is one of the best ways to protect your claim.

How to Strengthen and Protect Your New York Injury Claim

• Get medical care immediately and follow through with all recommended treatment
• Avoid giving recorded statements to the other driver’s insurer
• Limit social media posting during your case
• Keep track of missed work and out-of-pocket expenses
• Contact an attorney early so the insurance company can’t take advantage of you

For more on how personal injury cases work, visit the Personal Injury Practice Area. If you want to discuss your situation directly, you can reach out anytime through the Contact Page.

Work With a Lawyer Who Understands Insurance Tactics

Insurance companies handle thousands of claims a year. You shouldn’t have to go up against them alone. I help clients across Nassau County and the Nassau–Queens border protect their rights, avoid insurance pitfalls, and pursue the compensation they deserve.

Contact the Law Offices of Laurence Rogers today to schedule your consultation and get the guidance you need from a Long Island personal injury attorney who puts people first.