HurtCallMax · Alberta injury resources
An insurance conversation can move quickly when you are also dealing with an injury. Keep the record accurate, understand what is being requested and ask for clarification before making an agreement you do not understand.
Record the request before responding
- Who is contacting you and which insurer or party they represent.
- The claim number, date and purpose of the call or letter.
- Whether the request concerns your own benefits, vehicle damage or a claim against another party.
- The documents, authorization or statement requested and any stated deadline.
Be accurate rather than rehearsed
Describe what you know and distinguish it from estimates or what someone else told you. Do not guess at a medical prognosis or fill gaps in your memory. Keep relevant records intact, including material that may not support your preferred account.
If you do not understand the scope of an authorization or request for a recorded statement, ask for it in writing and discuss it with a lawyer. Your obligations can depend on the policy and the kind of claim.
Understand an offer and release
Ask what categories of loss the offer addresses, what assumptions it uses and which claims the proposed release would resolve. Consider whether important records, treatment information or work impacts are still unknown.
There is no verified multiplier on this page for what a lawyer will add to an offer. Negotiated outcomes depend on evidence, legal responsibility, insurance and many case-specific factors.
Make follow-up manageable
Keep correspondence in date order and note unresolved questions. If a payment is described as an advance, reimbursement or final settlement, confirm that distinction. Ask a lawyer about any time-sensitive decision rather than relying on an online valuation.
Questions about fault and earlier conditions
If an adjuster proposes that you contributed to the incident, ask which facts and documents support that position. Keep your own account accurate and identify relevant witnesses, photographs or reports. A proposed percentage in correspondence is a position to assess, not a finding you must adopt without understanding it.
If earlier injuries are raised, preserve both the earlier and later records. A pre-existing diagnosis is not a substitute for examining what changed after the event. Avoid an invented symptom-free history, and do not assume an earlier condition defeats the claim. See the linked guide on thin-skull and crumbling-skull issues.
Medical assessments and information requests
An examination requested by an insurer, a treating appointment and a legal expert assessment can have different purposes. Ask who requested the assessment, its stated scope, what records will be provided and how the report will be used. Discuss obligations and concerns with the lawyer handling the matter rather than following a blanket online instruction to attend or refuse.
For a medical authorization, read which providers, dates and types of information it covers. If something seems unclear or broader than the request discussed, obtain clarification. This article does not set a universal number of years of medical records that must or must not be produced.
Social media, surveillance and everyday accuracy
Photographs and short clips can lack context. Describe your abilities consistently and truthfully, including changes over time and the after-effects of an activity. Do not stage a limitation or continue an unsafe activity to prove a point.
Preserve relevant existing messages and posts, and ask your lawyer about disclosure. Do not respond to a concern by deleting material. Think carefully before publicly discussing the collision, another person or a pending claim.
Delay and unresolved requests
Maintain a list of what is outstanding, who is expected to respond and when you last followed up. Request written reasons for an insurer’s decision. Escalation and complaint options depend on the issue and do not necessarily stop a legal deadline.
Before signing a settlement, ask for a written explanation of the amount, deductions, release and payment process. A clear explanation of uncertainty is more useful than a claim that representation always multiplies an offer.
Content update — September 27, 2026
We removed unsupported settlement multipliers and blanket descriptions of insurer conduct. The guide now focuses on verifiable requests, records and decisions.