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"I won't need a lawyer, because I'll be honest with the adjuster and they will with me."

By Steve Lombardi

After a car accident, for the most part many people start off thinking that being fair and honest will carry the day. Most people's definition of fairness and honesty has to do with talking long and telling it all and then the insurance benefit engine will start up and the claim will miraculously get settled. That's because many people believe that honesty is something missing from the insurance-legal system. They think lawyers lie and cheat for their clients and ultimately steal from the insurance pool. Think that if you want to but it's simply not true.

THE NAÏVE PERSON BELIEVES THEY ARE THE FIRST HONEST PERSON TO EVER FILE A CLAIM

The naïve person thinks that after an accident or medical mistake the person that they are the first honest person to ever enter the system. And they think they being different will simply be honest, tell it all and the system will bend over backwards at the prospect of finally there is an honest person making an insurance claim. Is this you? Is this what you think when you think of tort reform? Okay good now keep that thought in mind.

Remember the Gong Show? Can you hear the gong that gets pounded every time a bad act is done? At this moment in your new found legal career of handling your own claim you should hear it loud and clear.

GONG! YOU'VE BEEN GONGED!!! AND IT'S BECAUSE YOUR ACT STINKS.

Your assumptions are all wrong. You need a new perspective. Let me oblige you. Lawyers loose their licenses for lying and cheating. Clients go to jail. And adjusting claims isn't about being fair – it's about paying less. Here I can prove to you adjusting claims isn't about being fair.

Let's begin with the recorded statement. You asked me this question:

• Why does the insurance adjuster want to take my statement?

Two reasons really and neither is in your best interest.

Insurance adjuster talk to those filing claims for two reasons and only two reasons – and I can prove it. Here are their reasons for wanting to talk to you.

1. To see if they can get you to say something that gives them a reason to deny your claim.

2. Or, to see if they can get you to say something that allows them to pay you less than the law reasonably requires.

Here let me prove I'm right. If I'm wrong you should be able to recall one time an adjuster said something similar to this.

Name one adjuster, who has ever said to someone filing a claim,

Adjuster: 'How much do you want to settle your claim?

Mr. or Mrs. Injured Person: 'Well, how about a $1,000.00 for the pain and suffering?'

Adjuster: 'No I can't pay you that much, it wouldn't be fair. You're entitled to more than what you've asked me to pay you. How about if I pay you more than you asked for, would you accept more?'

A CALL TO ACTION

Can you think of just one case where any adjuster on this planet or any other offered to pay you more than you asked to be paid? Just one; that's all I need. I'll wait while you take some time to think. Here, let's get the insurance industry involved. See that comment section down at the bottom of this post? Well, that's the place where the entire insurance industry can write down the names, dates and amounts they paid someone over and above what they asked to be paid. And let's not leave out the lawyers; you know the ones you say are greedy. Let all those lawyers add their comments as well.

CERTAINLY THERE ARE EXAMPLES ON THE INTERNET

Okay the Internet is a big place. Cyberspace has more information than America has in bailout money. So we should be able to find an example on the Internet. I ask you to find me a place one insurance company website that tells claimants that the value of their time or pain/suffering or quality of life has any monetary value whatsoever. Here allow me to help you with some links.

State Farm – Your good neighbor.

AllState – You're in good hands. Or We'll give you something to smile about.

Progressive – Name your price.

Farm Bureau -

Allied / Nationwide – Is on your side.

Farmers Insurance Group – Planning is your best protection against the unexpected.

Have you found one? I didn't think so and I rest my case. But, before I go, here is how the insurance adjuster and insurance claims office view that 'one honest person filing their own claim'.

THE ART OF ADJUSTING CLAIMS AND HOW TO VIEW THE ONE HONEST CLAIMANT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ozU4KcvIZ0

THE G-1 ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR TORT REFORM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R28b8XXoXs

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on May 05, 2009 (boomark / email).