How to successfully negotiate personal injury insurance claim - Handling the First Call from the Insurance Adjuster

How to successfully negotiate personal injurymatter and pay you an additional $2,500 on top of
insurance claim - Handling the First Call from thethat! You won't have to submit a thing; we pretty
Insurance Adjustermuch know what your medical treatments consist of.
No recording from the insurance adjusterMy boss has only done this in two other cases that I
Remember, ABSOLUTELY NO RECORDING! This is aknow of. That sounds pretty fair, doesn't it? I can
primary, cardinal Number One Rule. What you sayhave the paperwork prepared along with the check
CAN and WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU. She mayto you in, say, two days. OK?"
try to get into your personal life: Are you married?WOW! You would swear some of these adjusters
Do you have kids? Where do you work? What docould sell used cars and do quite well at it. She is not
you do? Etc. Again, deflect all of those questions anddoing you any favors at all. What she is doing is
tell her there will be more than sufficient time for younothing you want any part of; she is trying to avoid
to present that information as part of yourwhat she sees as the possibility of extensive
background in your settlement claim. She has no rightdamages. Insurance companies do not want to hang
to the information at this time and do not participatearound on the payment end of a heavy damages
in giving it to her.claim as they watch the medical expenses increase
She is going to want to know your version of theand the pain and suffering award grow. Of course
accident. You can't believe how sweetly the questionevery early settlement offer is not the sign of a
will come because it sounds like she wants to beparticularly strong case; some cases with simple
your "good neighbor" and friend. Just remember herdamages need to be settled early.
"good hands" are on your wallet and anything youThe key to knowing when avoid the overtures to
say about the accident or your treatment WILLearly settlement is to focus on your injuries: if they
work to your disadvantage later on. Tell her veryare simple and you completed all necessary medical
politely that you do not wish to give any statementtreatment after only one or two visits, there is
whatsoever regarding "my" version or any version ofnothing wrong with entertaining an early settlement
the accident. Tell her that you will be glad to discussoffer. Just make sure she has all the information
the facts further at the appropriate time. Tell her youfrom you and your doctors before she formulates
will be making a written demand for compensationher offer. And make sure you counter her offer at a
and it will include a complete description of thehigher amount than you actually want.
accident.On the other hand, as is most often the case when
She is going to want to know where you went foran insurance adjuster is anxious to settle, if your
treatment, and, by the way, how are you feelinginjuries are more severe, or will take some longer
today, and-oh-what did your doctors tell you abouttime for a course of treatments, then she is trying
your injuries. NEVER, EVER, GIVE HER THISto buy a settlement on the cheap, and you need to
INFORMATION EARLY ON.politely decline her overtures. Do not be one of the
There is not one thing in that request that cannotcrowd that accepts an unsatisfactory settlement
wait your sending to her a brief paragraph in writing.offer. Most people are so overjoyed to know they
The reason why she wins and you lose-big time-ifwill not have to fight for a settlement that they
you answer is that at this early stage, you do notjump at the first offer.
know what is important or not important about anyPlus she has worked in a neat little factor in her
of those topics. But believe us, much is at risk,presentation to induce you to settle because you
because in the informal format of the interview youmight feel beholden to both her and her supervisor.
will not think to include everything. And although itDo you recall (from the example above) how she
sounds informal, once you give a statement, it maytold you about going to bat for you and your award,
as well be etched in stone.and how her supervisor also went along, in a rare
See, she will ask you when you are finished speakingshow of compassion?? The natural reaction of most
whether or not there is anything else you canpeople (because they are gullible enough to believe
remember that you want to add. Then, so far as theher) is to be in awe of-and thankful for-all she has
insurance company is concerned, you have justdone for them. "Gosh, look what they did for me;
committed yourself to that particular set of facts.they really care about me and my well-being; they
YOU CANNOT LATER COME AND CHANGE THINGSreally went out on a limb for me to make this offer."
WITHOUT AROUSING SUSPICION ANDCan you see how making you feel indebted to her
RESISTENCE.and her supervisor makes you want to believe that
Keep Your Resolvewhat she has done is fair, and it would be in bad
With respect to the second rule, keep your resolve.taste to go against all they have arranged and ask
She is trying to intimidate you and to discourage youfor much-if any at all-more money? This is nothing
from proceeding with full vigor by arguing "no liability"more than a pleasant way to intimidate the poor
at the outset. She knows that her insured owes youvictim from seeking his rights. Instead of threats and
something and she is trying to deflate yourharsh talk, she has used honey, but make no
enthusiasm for documenting and submitting yourmistake: her purpose is to undermine your resolve to
claim. You do not have to get into a debate with her,push forward toward a fair settlement. And if you
or prove her wrong on the phone. Calmly state thatlisten to her, she has won with sweet intimidation.
you are sure that she, as a professional, would notWhat is the key to avoiding this trap? First, this
make a decision on partial facts and that once sheadvice only applies if you do have a case involving
has your complete demand package she will agreesomething more than just one visit or two to the
with your assessment.doctor. If that is your situation, then when she starts
Then say goodbye and get off the phone. DO NOTto sell you on an early settlement, the key is: DO
engage her in idle banter; she has no facts to go onNOT EVEN LISTEN TO HER. DO NOT LET HER GET
and all she is doing has nothing positive in it for you,HER PROPOSAL OUT ON THE TABLE. SHUT HER
so don't accept her invitation to spar at this time.DOWN; TELL HER IT IS FAR TOO EARLY TO MAKE
Once you are free of her, read more of this websiteANY SUCH OFFER, AND YOU DO NOT INTEND TO
to understand the strengths and weaknesses ofSELL YOUR CLAIM SHORT. USE THOSE EXACT
your case.WORDS. And end that topic of conversation. Why
Resist Overtures toward an Early Settlementshould you say this, isn't that rude?
The third ground rule is to resist her overturesNo, what she is trying to do to you is rude. If you
toward an early settlement. If you do have aeven so much as ask her what the offer is, then she
particularly strong case, both in terms of liability andhas won a BIG part of her battle; you have shown a
severe bodily injury, you can expect that thebig weakness because you have shown an interest in
adjuster is going to try to settle the claim early. Shesettling before you've resolved your medical care.
may not try it during the first call, but somewhereThe proper response is to politely tell her that you
early on, she is going to indicate that the case is oneare under medical care and treatment and that when
of clear liability against her insured and that she has ayou are stabilized, you will present her a demand
fair offer for you. She may even blurt out a proposal:package and then learn her value of the claim. Tell
"I cleared this with my supervisor because we feelher that you don't believe she could possibly have an
so bad about what happened to you. He authorizedunderstanding of the value of the claim because she
me to take care of all your medical expenses in thishas not received medical information.