Why you shouldn’t speak to an insurance adjuster without your lawyer if you’re seriously injured

December 23, 2025, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’re seriously injured in a vehicle collision, the words you choose in conversations with an insurance adjuster can have long-lasting consequences. Adjusters are working for the insurance company, not you, and they aim to settle quickly and minimise the insurer’s exposure, which may not align with your best interests or your long-term recovery. Here’s why it’s wise to involve a lawyer before you speak.

Protect your legal rights and preserve compensation

When injuries are serious, you may be entitled to a range of benefits, including Statutory Accident Benefits, medical care, attendant care, and compensation for pain and suffering if a tort claim is available. An experienced personal injury lawyer can identify every avenue and ensure you don’t inadvertently limit your rights with an early statement.

Statements can create unintended admissions

A casual or rushed statement can be interpreted as an admission of fault, a mischaracterization of your injuries, or a misremembered detail. Once provided, these interpretations can be used to reduce liability or deny benefits, even if the evidence later proves otherwise.

Recorded statements are powerful and risky

Recorded statements are often used by insurers to justify lower settlements or to deny claims. You may feel pressure to “tell the truth,” but without legal guidance, your version of events might be framed in a way that harms your claim. A lawyer can guide you on whether to provide a statement at all and what to say if you must.

No-fault benefits versus civil actions in Ontario

Ontario’s no-fault benefits can cover medical treatment and income replacement, regardless of who was at fault. However, serious injuries may also open the door to a civil claim against the at-fault driver for non‑pecuniary damages and other losses. A lawyer helps you navigate these layers, ensuring you don’t foreclose options.

Secret questions and rushed releases can jeopardize future rights

Adjusters may request releases for medical records or ask questions designed to fast-track a settlement. Signing a release too early can permanently limit your access to future treatment or damages. Legal counsel can review any documents and advise which disclosures are truly necessary.

The pressure to settle early

Insurers often push for quick settlements before you’ve had a full assessment of your injuries or long‑term needs. Early offers rarely reflect ongoing medical costs, future care, or non-economic damages. A lawyer can counter offers with a comprehensive calculation of present and future losses.

Your medical evidence should guide the process

The scheduling and adequacy of medical treatment are central to your claim. An attorney coordinates with your healthcare providers, helps document injury severity, and ensures medical records support your recovery and compensation goals.

Legal privilege and strategic advantage

Communications with a lawyer are protected under legal privilege. Speaking with counsel first preserves your rights and allows you to communicate with insurers from a position of informed strategy rather than urgency.

If you’re seriously injured, don’t navigate insurance conversations alone. Contact a personal injury lawyer promptly to advise you before you engage with an adjuster. In Ontario, firms like Deutschmann de Koning Law offer initial consultations to review your rights, explain your options, and plan a path that prioritises your health and financial recovery. A measured, legally guided approach can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your claim.

It you’ve been injured, call us first.

About Deutschmann de Koning Law

Deutschmann de Koning Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann and Nick de Koning focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.ddinjurylaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.