What injured Vicksburg tug workers should know before talking to their employer’s insurance adjuster

If you’re a deckhand on the river in Vicksburg or elsewhere in Mississippi and you were hurt on the vessel, you could end up being questioned by your company’s insurance adjuster.

Be careful how you handle the experience. Even if the interviewer seems nice, consider the session to be an interrogation designed to get you to say something you will later regret if you decide to pursue a settlement or legal action.

This does not mean to give only your name, rank and serial number. Be honest about the details of the accident and the nature of your injuries.  However, be careful in answering questions about whether you’ve had previous injuries and medical treatment. Rather than saying “no,” it is better to say “I am not sure” or “to the best of my knowledge, no.” Because even if you made an honest mistake and forgot that you did suffer a similar injury years ago, your character will be assassinated in court.

Do not try to hide your medical past because the insurance company will look through your medical records with a fine tooth comb. They are highly trained and experienced in rooting out any information on file. We have heard of investigators visiting every hospital in the area of an injured worker’s home with an authorization to go through records.

To help prepare yourself in dealing with your employer’s insurance company or to visit the doctor after an injury, order one of our many free books and reports.