When you’re injured at work in North Carolina, workers’ compensation is supposed to protect you, but that doesn’t always feel like reality. Insurance adjusters are trained to save their employers money, and some of their tactics can slow your benefits, push unfair settlements, or even jeopardize your claim. Understanding common adjuster strategies helps you stay in control of your claim and get the benefits you’re entitled to under the law.
At Stewart Law Offices, we help injured workers stand up to unfair tactics and secure the medical care and wage benefits they deserve. If you’re struggling with your workers’ comp claim, call or contact us online for a free consultation.
Why Insurance Adjusters Aren’t on Your Side After a Work Injury
Insurance adjusters may sound friendly, but their primary duty is to their employer, the insurance company, not you. Their job is to investigate, evaluate, and ultimately limit the amount or duration of benefits paid. That means even legitimate claims can be downplayed, delayed, or undervalued through techniques that seem reasonable at first but are designed to cut costs.
In North Carolina, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so benefits are available regardless of who caused the injury. But that doesn’t stop some adjusters from using tactics that leave injured workers frustrated and undercompensated.
Common Workers’ Comp Insurance Adjuster Tactics in North Carolina
Insurance adjusters use a predictable playbook. Some of the most common tactics injured workers face include:
- Encouraging quick statements before you understand your injury;
- Pushing early settlement offers;
- Controlling medical care;
- Delaying authorizations for treatment;
- Blaming symptoms on pre-existing conditions;
- Monitoring injured workers through surveillance.
Each of these tactics can significantly affect the value and outcome of your claim if you’re not careful.
How Adjusters Misuse Independent Medical Exams and Pre-Existing Conditions
Insurance companies often send injured workers to Independent Medical Examinations, or IMEs. Despite the name, these exams are rarely independent. The insurance company pays the doctor, usually someone they use repeatedly, and that doctor knows which side signs their checks. These physicians often try to minimize the severity of your injuries. They may prematurely claim you have reached maximum medical improvement, contradicting your treating doctor’s opinion, or assert that your condition is a result of a pre-existing problem rather than the workplace accident.
Adjusters frequently and aggressively misuse the presence of pre-existing conditions to justify reducing or denying claims. In fact, citing a pre-existing condition is the most common reason for claim denial, accounting for 28% of all denials in a national survey.
If you have any prior injuries or medical conditions, adjusters will try to blame your current problems on those old issues.
Why Company-Favored Doctors and Minimizing Your Symptoms Hurt Your Claim
Insurance adjusters often direct you toward specific doctors who have relationships with the insurance company. These physicians may be more likely to minimize your injuries, rush you back to work, or refuse to authorize additional treatment. While North Carolina requires you to see authorized providers initially, you have the right to request a change of physician if you’re not receiving appropriate care.
Adjusters also downplay your pain and symptoms during conversations. They’ll ask leading questions designed to make you admit you’re feeling better or can perform certain activities. They document these conversations carefully and use your own words against you when disputing your claim.
Steps to Take Immediately to Avoid Common Adjuster Tricks
- Report your injury to your employer immediately and in writing.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and keep all appointments.
- Keep copies of medical records, bills, and correspondence.
- Avoid posting about your injury on social media.
- Contact a workers’ compensation attorney early.
Under North Carolina workers’ compensation law, injured workers must meet specific timely notice and filing requirements, including reporting their injury to their employer within 30 days and filing a claim before the statutory deadline. If you miss these deadlines, you may lose valuable benefits.
When to Involve a North Carolina Workers’ Comp Attorney
If an adjuster pressures you, delays treatment, disputes your injury, or pushes a settlement you don’t understand, it’s time to involve an attorney. A knowledgeable North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer can handle communications, protect your rights before the NCIC, and push back against unfair insurance tactics.
Get Legal Protection From Insurance Adjuster Tricks — Contact Our Charlotte Workers’ Comp Lawyers Today
Don’t let insurance adjuster tricks cost you the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to under North Carolina law. The experienced Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys at Stewart Law Offices understand these tactics and know how to protect your rights. We’ve helped countless injured workers overcome insurance company obstacles and secure full benefits.
Call 866-783-9278 or contact us online for a free consultation.
