Short Answer

Tell the adjuster that you are represented, provide your lawyer’s contact information, and politely direct further claim communications to the law firm. Avoid discussing the accident, injuries, treatment, fault, or settlement before speaking with your lawyer. Save the adjuster’s message and promptly tell your legal team about the contact, especially if the request concerns a recorded statement, medical authorization, release, or deadline.

Why Might an Adjuster Contact You After You Hire a Lawyer?

An adjuster may contact you because the insurer has not yet received the law firm’s notice of representation. Messages can cross while the firm is opening the file, identifying all applicable claims, and locating the correct claims representative. An insurer may also have separate adjusters handling bodily injury, vehicle damage, medical-payment coverage, or different family members.

The contact does not necessarily mean that anything improper has happened. However, an insurance adjuster works for the insurer and does not represent you or your child. Once you have hired a lawyer, routing claim communications through the lawyer helps prevent incomplete statements, inconsistent information, and confusion about what the insurer is requesting.

What to Say—and What Not to Discuss

You can keep the response brief. A practical response is: “I have hired a lawyer for this accident. Please contact my lawyer about the claim.” Give the firm’s name and contact information if you have it. You do not need to argue with the adjuster or explain the claim.

Until your lawyer advises otherwise, avoid discussing:

• How the collision happened or who you believe was at fault.
• Your speed, attention, movements, or actions before the crash.
• Your injuries, symptoms, medical history, or recovery.
• Your child’s symptoms, care, records, or claim.
• Missed work, financial losses, or other damages.
• Settlement figures or whether you would accept an offer.
• Recorded statements, releases, or broad medical authorizations.

This caution matters in North Carolina because contributory negligence may be raised as a defense. If the defense proves that an injured person’s own negligence helped cause the injury, it can create serious problems for the claim. The party asserting that defense generally has the burden of proving it under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139. Even a casual description of the crash may later be compared with the crash report, photographs, witness accounts, or other evidence.

Steps to Take After the Contact

1. Identify the caller. Write down the adjuster’s name, insurer, telephone number, email address, claim number, and the person whose claim the adjuster is handling.
2. State that you have legal representation. Give only the law firm’s contact information and ask the adjuster to direct claim questions there.
3. Do not provide a recorded statement on the spot. Tell the adjuster that your lawyer will respond. Whether a statement is required can depend on which insurer is requesting it, the policy language, and the circumstances.
4. Do not sign or electronically approve documents. Forward medical authorizations, releases, settlement papers, and other forms to your lawyer for review.
5. Preserve the communication. Save voicemail, email, text messages, letters, and screenshots. Do not edit the original message.
6. Notify your law firm promptly. Let the firm know whether you spoke with the adjuster and summarize anything that was said.

If the contact concerns an immediate administrative issue, such as the location of a damaged vehicle or towing information, do not ignore it. Tell your lawyer promptly so the issue can be coordinated without unnecessarily discussing the bodily injury claim.

Does It Matter Whether It Is Your Insurer?

Yes. A claim against the other driver’s insurer differs from a claim involving your own auto policy. Your policy may contain cooperation, notice, statement, examination, or document-production requirements. That does not mean you should respond without guidance or that every request is proper. It means the request should be sent to your lawyer quickly so the policy, facts, and applicable law can be reviewed.

Your lawyer may coordinate an appropriate response, arrange a statement when required, clarify the scope of a request, or provide supporting materials in an organized way. Medical records, bills, proof of lost income, and other claim documents should be checked for accuracy and relevance before submission. Coverage should also be identified before anyone signs a release that could affect the right to pursue another person or insurer.

Keep the Parent’s and Child’s Claims Organized Separately

When a parent and child were both injured, each person has a separate bodily injury claim even though both claims arise from the same collision. The insurer may assign different claim numbers or request different records. Do not assume that a communication about the parent also applies to the child.

Forward communications involving the child to the lawyer without providing the child’s medical details or signing settlement documents. A child’s claim can involve additional procedures and protections. The law firm can determine whose authorization is needed, how records should be provided, and what process may apply to any proposed resolution.

Information to Save for Your Lawyer

Keep the following materials together for each family member’s claim:

• The adjuster’s voicemail, email, text, or letter.
• The insurer’s name, claim number, and contact information.
• Any request for a recorded or written statement.
• Medical authorizations, releases, or settlement forms.
• Coverage letters, reservation-of-rights letters, or denial letters.
• Medical bills, visit summaries, and records already received.
• Proof of missed work or other documented losses, when applicable.
• Photographs, crash information, witness details, and repair documents.

Preserving these materials allows the law firm to confirm the applicable coverage, respond consistently, and determine whether additional evidence should be secured before it disappears.

Do Not Assume Insurance Discussions Pause a Lawsuit Deadline

Hiring a lawyer and communicating with an insurer do not automatically extend the time for filing a lawsuit. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 provides a three-year period for many North Carolina personal injury actions, although the correct deadline can depend on the claim and the injured person’s circumstances. Your lawyer should receive the accident date and all claim documents promptly so the applicable deadlines can be evaluated.

How This Applies to a Parent and Child’s Auto Claims

Here, the parent and child have bodily injury claims and a law firm has recently begun representing them. If an adjuster calls before the notice of representation reaches the correct claim file, the safest response is to identify the law firm, end the substantive discussion, and send the contact details to the legal team. The firm can then confirm representation in writing, identify both claim numbers, determine whether separate adjusters are involved, and coordinate future communications for each injured person.

When Wallace Pierce Law May Be Able to Help

Wallace Pierce Law may help by sending notice of representation, confirming the adjuster and claim number for each family member, and directing future bodily injury communications through the firm. The legal team may also review requests for statements or authorizations, organize medical and loss documentation, preserve accident evidence, identify possible coverage, and monitor applicable deadlines.

If an adjuster continues contacting you, sends documents for signature, or asks for an immediate response, the firm can review the request and communicate with the insurer. The appropriate response depends on which insurer is involved, what the policy requires, and the facts of the claims.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Durham

If your question involves injuries, insurance, fault, medical documentation, settlement paperwork, or a possible deadline, speaking with a licensed North Carolina attorney can help clarify your options. Call 919-313-2737 to discuss what happened and what steps may make sense next.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina personal injury law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not medical advice, tax advice, or insurance policy interpretation. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If there may be a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.