We see it time and time again: Stacks of papers piling up on claims adjusters' desks in the form of bodily injury (BI) demands from attorneys for injuries supposedly sustained as the result of an auto accident. Of course, the attorney's client is never at fault, and most certainly the alleged injuries are always the result of your insured's negligence. Sound familiar?
Like a game of cat and mouse, some attorneys will try to take advantage of busy adjusters to maximize settlements for their clients, at times garnering far more than the claim may actually be worth. It should be said, however, that the tables can be turned, as attorneys are equally as busy, often necessitating the use of associates, or negotiators, to push through an even greater volume of work. Fortunately, this latter bit of information can be of invaluable assistance when evaluating and negotiating injury claims.
The truth of the matter is that attorneys get paid based upon how much they collect. Their contingency fee is often one third of the settlement value, and perhaps 40 percent if a lawsuit is filed. The same cannot be said of adjusters, whose obligation is to conduct a thorough investigation in order to arrive at a fair value based upon the facts and evidence presented. Herein lies the challenge for organizations trying to intersect accuracy with perfection.
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