After an accident, you face the reality of paying hospital bills and trying to put your life back on track. Loss of wages compound the financial issues. You have no option but to file a claim with the insurance company. A number of factors influence an adjuster’s decision, regarding the appropriate size of the offer that functions as the means for starting negotiations.
What adjusters consider before making that first offer/bid
Has the plaintiff hired a personal injury lawyer in Arcadia to represent him/her in the courtroom?
Does it look as though the opposing side has the ability to make a strong case?
Did the adjuster’s insurance company receive a demand letter?
—Did it contain a demand for a specific amount of money?
—Did the information in that letter agree with or contradict the facts uncovered by an investigation?
How soon does the claimant hope to settle?
How to arrive at the approximate figure for what could be the claimant’s lowest acceptable offer?
How do claimants know that the compensation for general pain and suffering from the insurance company is reasonable? The multiplier and the per diem methods offer a good approximate figure. However, depending upon the specifics of the individual case, the injury lawyer would be the bets judge.
If adjuster asks any of these questions, the amount of time that could pass until settlement is apt to increase:
Where in the victim’s medical records does the doctor provide proof of the injury’s severity?
Why were the administered treatments required?
Why did the treatment period last as long as it did?
What is the proof that the relevant policy covers the reported claim?
Do you have evidence that could challenge an allegation of shared blame?
How to frame response to each of the above questions
A response to any question about the nature or extent of the victim’s injuries should share the relevant facts from the victim’s medical records. It should underline the education and experience of the medical professional that has served as the source for such facts.
Lawyers do the best job of handling any question about whether or not the relevant policy covers the reported claim? A lawyer’s legal knowledge should be greater than that of any adjuster.
In addition to coming forward with the available evidence, the attorney representing the claimant should inquire about the existence of evidence that can support an allegation of shared blame. That allegation might be used against a victim with a chronic medical condition.
Some adjusters like to suggest that anyone with such a condition should wear special gear, when driving an automobile. No medical expert has verified that suggestion.
