How To Negotiate A Settlement With An Insurance Claims Adjuster

You and I. M. Strong, the adjuster from Granite Mountain Insurance, are sitting at your kitchen table in an attempt to settle your motor vehicle accident claim.

Strong is all wound up and on the offensive, rambling on and on about how your injuries weren't serious. His typical pitch usually goes something like, "Look, I've been at this a long time. I've talked to people like you, day in and day out, for over twenty years. People who've gone through exactly what happened to you, with the same sort of claim as yours. Sure, you had a period of discomfort but your so-called injuries were routine. Believe me when I tell you they aren't worth much."

You're stunned. You can't believe what Strong is trying to pull. You say, "I've been miserable! There was no way I could get back to work because of the pain in my neck and back."

Strong shift's in his seat and a victorious look (one that says he knows it all) begins to march across his face. At that point he predictably states, "Look, I can tell you, after handling thousands of cases like yours, that the discomfort you may have had, for a couple of days at the most, are relatively minor. They don't even come close to justifying the three week's of work you lost and the disability you and your doctor are claiming".

Now you're thunderstruck! He smiles to himself and comes at you from another angle, "I've seen thousands of cases like yours and I've had more than my share of exposure to personal injury claims, examinations, doctor-talk and recovery - - the whole nine yards. I've seen physical trauma at its slightest and its worst. Any judge or jury would know, once they heard about your so-called 'injuries' that your physical problems were almost non-existent".

He'll take a minute to let that sink in and then he'll attempt to sway you even more by telling you he can prove your time lost from work was not compatible with the injury involved. He'll hint around about some "independent information" he's supposedly gathered from your neighbors and/or business associates, which indicate you've been involved in "very active" physical activities since the accident.

Once he lets that one sink in he'll ramble on about the "independent examination" the doctor hired by Granite Mountain executed, telling you, with outrageous confidence, that his doctors Medical Report states there was little, if anything, wrong with you. Then he'll surely try this one on for size: "My doctor is a professional .The only people he ever sees are those who've been in motor vehicle accidents. That's what he does all day long, check out personal injury claims like yours. His report clearly states your physical problems were almost non-existent".

He hums a happy tune to himself as he observes the amazement marching across your face and that drum beat he's heard so very often begins to pound away within the gray matter between his ears: Boom/Boom/Boom, declaring, "I gotcha!, I gotcha!, I gotcha!, I gotcha!"

If you let Strong get away with that than his attempt at downgrading your disability will have been successful. As a way of "proving" what happened to you wasn't serious he'll describe your "so-called injuries" with fancy medical language and then compare them to the more extreme types of personal injury problems or conditions he's dealt with in the past. The implication being yours were obviously minor and have little, if any, value.

At that point he'll read the statements and opinions in your own attending physicians Medical Report in such a way which, if not read properly, he'll insist proves, "You may have been a little sore from a slight injury but it clearly states you certainly didn't have any serious physical problems". (You can bet every dollar in your wallet that he's made that statement several thousand times)!

You're quickly discovering that neither Adjuster I. M. Strong nor his supervisors at Granite Mountain Insurance are going to be fair. They're out to take advantage of you. That's the name of their game and that's what they get paid to do. Question: Is that really true? Answer: Yes, it's really true. Take it from Dan, I was on that firing line for 30 years!

From that point on you shut down. You be the listener. Let him babble on. When he's finally done, you say, "Your points about my injuries are very interesting. I'd like to discuss them in detail with my doctor". Pause and then add, "We'll call this off for now while I go back and consult with him."

Before he answers you should get up, smile, point towards the kitchen door and bid him "Goodbye". If he balks, sneak a peek at your watch, tell him you're late for another appointment and insist your meeting is over. He'll have no choice but to leave.

If you do that here's what you'll have accomplished:

(1) You'll have seized the bargaining "momentum" and control from the adjuster and, if you remain adamant he'll never get them back.

(2) Served notice on him that it's you, not he, who will now call the shots in the negotiation "Power Game" he's been playing.

(3) Impressed the adjuster that the settlement will be done on your terms, not his.

You may ask: Okay, I threw the adjuster out and let him politely but surely know I'm not going to buy into his nonsense. So, when this all gets played out, what have I accomplished?

The answer is: I. M. Strong is aware you've not bought into his pitch and in his secret heart he perceives that reality. For those in the home office (so as to know exactly where they stand) his instructions have always been that everything that passed between the two of you is placed into the report's he continues to send in, regarding the settlement talk's he's been having with you. So, the fact that you're not buying his story, will go into your file to be read by that adjusters superiors.

Once they do they'll have no choice but to conclude that you're no pushover!

You're going to stick to your guns because you're right and the Medical Report your attending physician executed for Adjuster Smart is legit. You know that both your "pain and suffering" and the length of recovery from your injuries, has been clearly stated.

Smart has correctly assumed that you're not accepting his usual pitch, filled with mumbo-jumbo nonsense, yet so often works. It's beginning to dawn on him if he doesn't change his tactics you're going to hand you case over to an attorney and his superiors at Granite Mountain won't be dancing for joy should that come to pass.

Wait five or six weeks then call Smart and ask him to come back to talk some more. I flat out guarantee you the next time you meet the power will have shifted into your corner and you'll never again hear him attempt to minimize your injuries. That often comes to pass because he's received this typical six word, one line memo, from his supervisor at the home office, "Settle this one and move on".

Granite Mountain will have reached the point where they're satisfied to pay and get rid of you. Why? Because personal injury claims continue to pile up and clog their incoming pipeline. They've got a lot of other unsuspecting prey to trap and shoot and it's clear you're an individual who's too wise, too tough and too difficult for them to fuss with any longer.

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this claim tip is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor (name of magazine/newsletter and/or web site) make any guarantee of any kind whosoever; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.

Dan Baldyga's latest book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How

To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at his web site http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com or visit your favorite bookstore.

Copyright (c) 2002 Danil G.Baldyga. All Rights Reserved

Dan Baldyga

About The Author

For 30 years Dan Baldyga was a claims adjuster, supervisor, manager and also a trial assistant. He is now retired and spends his time attempting to assist those involved in motor vehicle accident claims so they will not be taken advantage of.

dbpaw@attbi.com

---

Underinsurance Can Spell Disaster For Homeowners

Insurance is meant to give homeowners peace of mind, but... Read More

Life Insurance Fears Post the London Bombings Tragedy

Following on from the tube train and bus bomb attacks... Read More

An Annuities Primer

Though popular among today's aging Baby Boomers and members of... Read More

Term Life Insurance and Permanent Life Insurance

Term insurance and permanent insurance are two basic types of... Read More

Discount Auto Insurance - Keep Your Hard-Earned Money

Finding discount auto insurance is so easy when you do... Read More

Life Insurance Basics

One of the most important things you can do as... Read More

Long Term Care Insurance How Much Should I Buy?

Long-term care insurance policies have a variety of features and... Read More

Auto Insurance Information Online - Compulsory Auto Insurance

In 47 of the 50 United States, it is illegal... Read More

Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Premium

Many factors affect the premium you will pay for auto... Read More

Auto Insurance Rates

Auto insurance rates will vary depending on the insurance agency,... Read More

The Great Value Of Accident Photographs

You were humming along on a bright and sunny day... Read More

Online Insurance: The End of the High Street Broker?

When I was a lad, some 25 years ago, the... Read More

Life Insurance No Medical Exam - Is It Really Possible?

Quite often you feel that an ad for life insurance... Read More

Home Insurance: Premium Protection In Case Mishap Takes A Rain Check

My whinstone house my castle is, I have my own... Read More

Do You Pay Too Much For Your Car Insurance?

Do the premiums just seem to get higher and higher... Read More

Who Else Wants to Understand Travel Insurance Policy Language?

Aren't all travel insurance plans basically the same?No. When you... Read More

Travel Insurance Pre-Existing Conditions Coverage - How It Works

What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?When a trip cancellation travel... Read More

Insurance For The Self Employed And Those Seeking Health Insurance

First of all, congratulations on deciding to go out and... Read More

Insurance and The Engineer

The world is no longer right when the two words,... Read More

What Are The Auto Liability Insurance State Minimums For My State?

As you shop online for the best auto insurance deals... Read More

Reducing Soaring Insurance Claim Costs

With the soaring rise in claims to insurers from their... Read More

Life Insurance Whole Life or Term Life - Find Affordable Life Insurance

Life insurance, whether you need term or whole life, can... Read More

Finding California High Risk Truck Insurance

California high risk truck insuranceIf your are in need of... Read More

Do You Know What The 7 Home Insurance Plans Are?

Most people don't realize that there are 7 different homeowners... Read More

What Do You Mean My Auto Insurance Policy Doesnt Cover This!!

Auto insurance is an agreement between you and your insurance... Read More

Tips For Lowering Your Auto Insurance Quote

Do you have many claims? If so, you should do... Read More

Life Insurance Without Life Value: Why Young People Are Snubbing Financial Advice

This article is written by a 27 year old female... Read More

Health Insurance Online - Save Today

It is now possible to thoroughly research and buy health... Read More

The Life Insurance Plan Online

Thank goodness the internet age has arrived helping us to... Read More

Everything You Need to Know About Life Insurance

Life insurance is a type of protection that can be... Read More

How to Shop for Individual Health Insurance

If you find yourself in the position of shopping for... Read More

Long Term Care and Long Term Care Insurance

A person might need long term care (LTC) if he/she... Read More

How Do I Lower My Auto Insurance Premiums?

It seems as though the price of everything is on... Read More