Talk to the Insurance Adjuster
I just got back from the Settlement Institute, a special invitation only seminar on settling cases put on by John Romano. John was gracious enough to invite me to be one of the speakers for the seminar. In exchange, I got to sit through and learn a tremendous amount from some incredible people. If you get the chance to go to this seminar, go. The single best advice was to talk to the the insurance adjuster and send information as you get it.
I have tended to put a big complete package together. All of the medical records, a functional capacity evaluation, future meds workup, supporting medical information, vocational report and so forth. John’s advice was to send the information a piece at a time and let them know what’s coming, even if you don’t have it. Also, if they need information on your client, provide it ahead of time. The adjuster is going to get it anyways, so let them know it’s coming and send it to them a piece at a time. This allows the adjuster a chance to re-evaluate the case as they go and realize that the case is worth more than they initially valued it for. It also allows them to readjust their reserves.
The best line of the seminar belonged to Vincent Leonard of Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley in West Palm Beach. Vincent worked with Allstate for 19 years. He said that they were very familiar with the lawyers who never went into a courtroom. According to Vincent “If you’re allergic to the courtroom. Take some benadryl and get over it”. Good line and good advice Vincent.
