Insurance Claim Personal Injury Settlement - The "Multiplier Method" (Part Two)
By Dan Baldyga
BE WILLING TO WAIT: Don't be in a hurry to settle your claim. Playing it cool and not bellowing, complaining, thundering forward and/or loudly clamoring will increase the dollar value of your settlement. Never forget that the passage of time is on your side. If you're patient you'll discover the adjuster (especially when you're only discussing the value of your "pain and suffering" - - because it's been determined fault is clearly that of his insured) will want to move your claim. Because of this you have a much better chance of obtaining the dollars you're aiming for.
ALWAYS REMAIN POLITE: Insurance adjusters are only human. Like the rest of us they don't respond well to abuse or hysterics. Stick to your guns but avoid extreme or negative emotions. In most instances, if you demonstrate to the adjuster that you're making an honest and solid effort to obtain the most possible dollars for the "pain and suffering" you've endured, and you're positively in for the long haul, you'll eventually achieve an acceptable settlement.
As detailed in the first installment of this two part article you determined your claim was worth $3,600.00 and you should begin with an initial demand of $7,200.00 which you did. The adjuster countered with $2,000.00. You dropped your demand to $4,528.00. The adjuster raised his offer to $2,900.00.
While all this back-and-forth is bubbling and boiling be polite but don't avoid legitimate confrontations. A calm difference of opinion can turn out to be a blessing in disguise because even the most negative adjuster will get the message that you aren't a pushover. He'll come to realize you're not going away until you've obtained a fair settlement.
If the adjuster contends that $4,528.00 is an unacceptable figure tell him that you've been left no choice but to hire a lawyer. Predictably, at this juncture in the typical negotiation process, he'll probably tell you, "$2,900.00 is my top dollar offer". He'll pause and then test you with, "Take it or leave it".
Nothing particularly nasty was said but under normal circumstances the two of you will usually, at that point in the negotiations, decide to part company.
Let things simmer down. Allow 8 to 12 weeks to pass. As happens more often than not, the adjuster has painted himself into a corner with his "take it or leave it" pitch. Because of this you've got to help him to begin talking to you again. So, call the adjuster, just as you would an old friend you've had a disagreement with, to make "nice-nice" with him, and pass the time of day. Ask him how he's doing? How's his health? Who's going to win the Super Bowl, etc. Engaging in this type of friendly conversational exchange will get him off the hook of his "take it or leave it" declaration. Before you hang up affirm, in a pleasant tone of voice, that you're tired of all the bickering, and say, "I'm willing to come down to $4,000.00 but that's absolutely my rock bottom figure."
Wait for him to make a counter-demand, which he will! Why? Because over the past several months his supervisor has been bugging him, over and over again, every time your file comes up on his internal diary system, that yours is a case of clear liability on the part of their insured and the only reason it remains open is a few hundred dollars. His supervisor will declare, "We're buried alive with a hundred new claims coming in every week. I've got a helluva lot more serious fish to fry than this stupid little case. Get rid of it and let's move on". Believe me, I know this to be true because "I've been there and done that' from both sides of that desk!
Somewhere along the line, the adjuster will have, in his own mind, begun to budge- - at the very least about 25% - - over his last offer of $2,900.00, which comes to $725.00. So, he'll eventually set, within the confines of his gray matter, a bottom line limit of ($2,900.00 + $726.00) $3,625.00.
He'll soon call and say something like, "Look, let's you and I get down to brass tacks. My company won't be too happy but I like you and I wanna make sure you're treated fairly. How about we settle this thing for $3400.00?"
You answer, "Make that $3,800.00 and you got a deal".
He responds, "How about $3,625.00?"
While you wonder where that figure came from you say, "Okay, let's get it over with. I agree".
