How to successfully negotiate personal injury insurance claim - Handling the First Call from the Insurance Adjuster Written by SettlementCentral.Com - Jeanine Steele
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The key to knowing when avoid overtures to early settlement is to focus on your injuries: if they are simple and you completed all necessary medical treatment after only one or two visits, there is nothing wrong with entertaining an early settlement offer. Just make sure she has all information from you and your doctors before she formulates her offer. And make sure you counter her offer at a higher amount than you actually want. On other hand, as is most often case when an insurance adjuster is anxious to settle, if your injuries are more severe, or will take some longer time for a course of treatments, then she is trying to buy a settlement on cheap, and you need to politely decline her overtures. Do not be one of crowd that accepts an unsatisfactory settlement offer. Most people are so overjoyed to know they will not have to fight for a settlement that they jump at first offer. Plus she has worked in a neat little factor in her presentation to induce you to settle because you might feel beholden to both her and her supervisor. Do you recall (from example above) how she told you about going to bat for you and your award, and how her supervisor also went along, in a rare show of compassion?? The natural reaction of most people (because they are gullible enough to believe her) is to be in awe of-and thankful for-all she has done for them. "Gosh, look what they did for me; they really care about me and my well-being; they really went out on a limb for me to make this offer." Can you see how making you feel indebted to her and her supervisor makes you want to believe that what she has done is fair, and it would be in bad taste to go against all they have arranged and ask for much-if any at all-more money? This is nothing more than a pleasant way to intimidate poor victim from seeking his rights. Instead of threats and harsh talk, she has used honey, but make no mistake: her purpose is to undermine your resolve to push forward toward a fair settlement. And if you listen to her, she has won with sweet intimidation. What is key to avoiding this trap? First, this advice only applies if you do have a case involving something more than just one visit or two to doctor. If that is your situation, then when she starts to sell you on an early settlement, key is: DO NOT EVEN LISTEN TO HER. DO NOT LET HER GET HER PROPOSAL OUT ON THE TABLE. SHUT HER DOWN; TELL HER IT IS FAR TOO EARLY TO MAKE ANY SUCH OFFER, AND YOU DO NOT INTEND TO SELL YOUR CLAIM SHORT. USE THOSE EXACT WORDS. And end that topic of conversation. Why should you say this, isn't that rude? No, what she is trying to do to you is rude. If you even so much as ask her what offer is, then she has won a BIG part of her battle; you have shown a big weakness because you have shown an interest in settling before you've resolved your medical care. The proper response is to politely tell her that you are under medical care and treatment and that when you are stabilized, you will present her a demand package and then learn her value of claim. Tell her that you don't believe she could possibly have an understanding of value of claim because she has not received medical information. Finally, as with all other conversations involving these matters, take notes. You can scribble them down on a piece of paper while you are talking but later transpose them to your Confidential Personal Diary (for more information about your Confidential Personal Diary please visit our website http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0208.htm). That way you have a chronological record of all adjusters you have talked with and questions they have asked and your responses. Augment diary with additional pieces of paper if you wish.Get more useful information on how to settle your own personal injury claim yourself by visiting SettlementCentral.Com (http://www.settlementcentral.com).
Jeanine Steele is an editor with SettlementCentral.Com (http://www.settlementcentral.com), the online resource for self-help do-it-yourself personal injury claims
| | Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Review your Credit Report RegularlyWritten by Cindy S. Morus
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3. Become aware of unauthorized activities which can be an early warning sign of identity theft. 4. Clear up errors in your credit file before applying for new credit cards or loans 5. Find out which credit companies have made inquiries on your credit file (too many inquiries can lower your score). 6. Close accounts you are no longer using and lower credit limits on existing cards. 7. Improve your credit report so you can get lower interest rates on mortgages, car loans and credit cards. 8. Reduce your car insurance rates (some insurance companies base your rates on FICO™ scores). 9. Know what a potential employer will see in your credit file if you are applying for a new job or promotion. 10. Your credit report is constantly changing and you are person most interested in keeping it accurate and up-to-date.
Cindy Morus is a Certified Credit Report Reviewer and Certified Financial Recovery Counselor. She shows families how to achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. For help in reviewing and improving your credit reports ,please contact Cindy at 541-387-2995 or by e-mail at cmorus@phelps-creek.com or www.phelps-creek.com.
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