If you are involved in a car accident then you may end up working with an insurance adjuster. It is common for them to ask for social security numbers. In fact, they often do so matter-of-factly that it may seem obvious that you should give it to the them – but should you? Keep reading to get the answers and remember that it is always worth it to contact a personal injury attorney for a free legal consultation before agreeing to any settlement.
Do Not Turn Over Your Social Security Number
The very simple truth is that you are not required to give your social security number to the insurance adjuster and we recommend that you elect not to if they request it. It is likely that the response from the adjuster will be for them to tell you that it is mandatory for you to get your case resolved. In fact, some insurance companies may even try to refuse to provide a settlement check unless they have a social security number from the party they are issuing it to.
The bottom line is that this is nothing but a bullying tactic. They have no legal right to require your social security number. They are well within their rights to ask for it but if they do, you can simply say or, better yet, tell them they can discuss the issue with your personal injury attorney and refer them to us.
What’s the Problem with Giving them the Number?
If you want to give them your social security number then you are welcome to do so. However, after decades of experience one fact we know to be true is that it is always better to give less information to the insurance adjuster rather than more. We have seen it time and time again – a client gives what they believe to be innocent information over, only to have that used against them. We recommend erring on the side of caution and only providing what you are legally required to provide. That does not include a social security number.
Do Not Hand Over Anything without Talking to a Personal Injury Attorney
If your accident is anything more than a very minor injury, you should contact a person injury attorney before giving away any information or any documentation. Do not allow the insurance adjuster to recover your conversation – they are allowed to ask but they do not have the legal right to do so without your consent.
Even the most obvious, cut and dry cases can be complicated if the insurance adjuster finds a way to make it so. Do not assume that they are on your side – they are not. No matter how friendly they may seem, they work for the insurance company – not you. Before agreeing to anything or signing off on anything, call [business] at [phone] for a free legal consultation.