This past week I have been negotiating with my least favorite insurance company. There must be a bunch of terrible lawyers out there taking low-ball offers because the adjusters I’m dealing with are BOLD. This car crash starts in June of 2019. I remember getting the call and thinking it is a miracle this client is still alive. She was hit by a drunk driver that came over into her lane of traffic. After getting hit by the first vehicle the car behind smashed into her. This blog post discusses the second vehicle that hit her. It is written from the perspective of a personal injury lawyer.
Demand Response
I send a package of medical bills and hospital records to the adjuster. It was clear my client was significantly injured. For some reason the adjusters from this particular insurance company always want to go over every last detail about a claim. It is almost as though they try to change your mind about the case. I’ve never had them change my mind. At this point I really just let them go on their tirade.
The adjuster said she couldn’t say for sure whether or not their insured hit my client. I already knew they paid out the passenger so that argument was nonsense. The adjuster went on and on and eventually said that it could be argued her insured acted “heroically” in avoiding an even worse crash. I almost spit out my coffee.
After her soliloquy she paused waiting for me to talk. I paused as well and eventually asked her if there was anything else. She asked me if I had any comments. I told her I had a question: Does your insured have an obligation to keep a safe distance between her and the vehicle in front…aka my client’s vehicle. The adjuster then went on another lengthy discussion of how bad a spot her insured was put in.
The conversation ended with an offer of $7,700.00. I told the adjuster I would relay to my client and recommend litigation. I did just that. My client agreed the offer was trash so I sent a policy limits demand with a seven day time frame.
Trying to Find a Way Out
The adjuster called me the next day and asked if I was willing to negotiate. I told her I was not. She called the day after that and asked if I would agree to binding arbitration with a top of $100,000.00 (their insured’s policy limits). I told her I would recommend to my clients they decline the arbitration. My clients listened and we declined.
The day before the seven day time frame was up the adjuster called me and said they would be tendering the $100,000.00 policy limits.
Why You Need A Lawyer
The fact they didn’t do so in the first place and made us jump through hoops on a claim they eventually paid out $100,000.00 is absurd. Keep in mind their they upped their initial offer twelve times! I know what I’m doing on a car crash case, but imagine how many people get taken advantage of by the insurance company.
This is why you hire a car crash lawyer to handle your case. I work on car, motorcycle, and truck cases on a daily basis. As a result, I know the little games the other side is playing.
Advertising Material for www.louisville-injury-lawyer.com Brian R. Dettman
