Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Claim Insights
By Dan Baldyga
I worked my way though college as an independent private investigator specializing in automobile accident insurance claims. After college, I spent three years as a Special Investigator Assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Navy, where the majority of the cases I worked on where monumental motor vehicle disasters in the mid-west.
When I returned to civilian life, I became an insurance claims adjuster, was promoted to supervisor and then manager. The last five years of my claims career I assisted company attorneys at trial. I am now retired, but when it comes to the business of investigating and then settling motor vehicle accidents, I've seen it all. So, consider this a warning. The adjuster may be nice guy, but never forget he's paid to save his company as much money as he possibly can.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING: If the insurance company calls and suggests they take your statement over the telephone, tell them you would prefer to meet with an adjuster. Don't agree to dictate a verbal statement into a tape recorder, over the telephone and certainly not when you meet the adjuster face to face. Whatever the circumstances may be, advise whomever you are dealing with that you will be more than willing to provide a statement, but only after your claim has been paid!
BEWARE OF THE ADJUSTERS SUPERVISOR AND/OR MANAGER'S NEGATIVITY: I've observed too many adjusters, who have been at it for so long that they become apathetic and crusty about their work, and the people they deal with. Unfortunately, this style of person is often promoted to a supervisor or even a managerial capacity. His indifference can filter down to negatively influence every adjuster who reports to him. I have seen this attitude infect a whole claims operation, so be cautious. In far too many instances the adjuster and his boss are brainstorming the best plan they can devise to hold onto every dollar that's owed to you.
CULTIVATE THE ADJUSTER'S GOOD OPINION: Be pleasant, but firm. No matter how his insured acted at the scene of the accident, and no matter what they may have verbalized to or at you, don't take it out on the adjuster. It's not the adjuster's fault if his insured is an idiot.
Never underestimate the importance of the adjuster's impressions and conclusions about you. If he likes you, that opinion will go into your file. It's money in the bank because, without your ever being aware of it, this information follows you right down to the last dollar of your settlement.
Supervisor to Adjuster: "What kind of a guy is this claimant anyways?"
Adjuster: "He's an okay guy. He's not a hot head nor is he difficult to deal with."
Supervisor: "How much more will it cost to settle this one and get it out of the way?"
Adjuster: "Five or six hundred bucks, more or less".
Supervisor: "I'm buried alive with new claims comin' in. I gotta make some moves before I get buried alive. Pay him what it takes and get rid of it."
CONSIDER THE ADJUSTER'S CLAIM LOAD: One of the most important criteria used to judge the job performance of an adjuster, by his superiors, is how fast they settle claims assigned to them. They need to bring your claim to a conclusion as quickly as possible because most adjusters get between 50 and 100 new claims a month. They must close 50 or more claims each month, just to stay even. The point is that they are under pressure to settle your claim, to get rid of it and move on. The claims adjuster will never tell you, but the weight of their caseload comes down on your side of the scale. It's an advantage you have that most people are never aware of.
