I have spent several years of my career working for big defense firms in both New York and Florida. At these firms, I defended nationwide self-insured entities, municipalities, small local business owners, and large corporations such as Walmart, Target, Amazon and Uber. The variety of cases ranged from a slip and fall, to police brutality, transportation catastrophes, shootings resulting in wrongful death, sex abuse and drownings. The common theme was that someone was really hurting on the other side. It was my job to beat the case down whether that be through finding a loophole, making Plaintiff look like a liar, or watering down their damages. However, these opportunities provided insight into how, and why, insurance companies operate. This experience was invaluable and provides such great leverage in the representation I bring in representing my clients today.
Insurance Companies Are Relentless
The insurance company is not your friend. Everyone has a job to do. They have rules and, in most cases, these rules were not meant to be broken. These rules tell insurance adjusters, insurance supervisors, and insurance defense attorneys how much a case is worth and why. There are incentives to resolving a case for as little as possible.
Many companies go so far as to use computer software to calculate claim value and provide decision-makers with a case value range. With very few exceptions, once these values are calculated, there is not a lot one can do to change the company’s evaluation. If an insurance company could settle a wrongful death claim for $10, wherein a husband lost his wife due to a semi-tractor-trailer driver that fell asleep at the wheel, it would. Unfortunately, it is a numbers game and it all comes down to the bottom line.
While I do believe insurance adjusters, claims supervisors, and insurance defense attorneys have compassion when a catastrophic case is before them – it doesn’t take away from the fact that they have a job to do. Most will do what they can to “win” in their job—it’s how they support their families. It pays to be good at one’s job even if it’s hard sometimes.
Insurance Companies Have Deep Pockets
Insurance companies can tolerate risk better than accident victims. Insurance companies have a seemingly endless supply of money. This is, of course, not literally true, but insurance companies are not afraid to spend money to defend a case. And they can always outspend accident victims.
What Does This Mean For My Clients?
Whether from the initial claims process, lengthy discovery, or at a mediation table, I’m able to, at a minimum, understand what is happening and why. More importantly, I’m able to wield this information to maximize not only my clients’ chances of a successful outcome but to increase the bottom line of what “successful outcome” really means.
Confessions Of A Former Insurance Defense Attorney
I have spent several years of my career working for big defense firms in both New York and Florida. At these firms, I defended nationwide self-insured entities, municipalities, small local business owners, and large corporations such as Walmart, Target, Amazon and Uber. The variety of cases ranged from a slip and fall, to police brutality, transportation catastrophes, shootings resulting in wrongful death, sex abuse and drownings. The common theme was that someone was really hurting on the other side. It was my job to beat the case down whether that be through finding a loophole, making Plaintiff look like a liar, or watering down their damages. However, these opportunities provided insight into how, and why, insurance companies operate. This experience was invaluable and provides such great leverage in the representation I bring in representing my clients today.
Insurance Companies Are Relentless
The insurance company is not your friend. Everyone has a job to do. They have rules and, in most cases, these rules were not meant to be broken. These rules tell insurance adjusters, insurance supervisors, and insurance defense attorneys how much a case is worth and why. There are incentives to resolving a case for as little as possible.
Many companies go so far as to use computer software to calculate claim value and provide decision-makers with a case value range. With very few exceptions, once these values are calculated, there is not a lot one can do to change the company’s evaluation.
If an insurance company could settle a wrongful death claim for $10, wherein a husband lost his wife due to a semi-tractor-trailer driver that fell asleep at the wheel, it would. Unfortunately, it is a numbers game and it all comes down to the bottom line.
While I do believe insurance adjusters, claims supervisors, and insurance defense attorneys have compassion when a catastrophic case is before them – it doesn’t take away from the fact that they have a job to do. Most will do what they can to “win” in their job—it’s how they support their families. It pays to be good at one’s job even if it’s hard sometimes.
Insurance Companies Have Deep Pockets
Insurance companies can tolerate risk better than accident victims. Insurance companies have a seemingly endless supply of money. This is, of course, not literally true, but insurance companies are not afraid to spend money to defend a case. And they can always outspend accident victims.
What Does This Mean For My Clients?
Whether from the initial claims process, lengthy discovery, or at a mediation table, I’m able to, at a minimum, understand what is happening and why. More importantly, I’m able to wield this information to maximize not only my clients’ chances of a successful outcome but to increase the bottom line of what “successful outcome” really means.
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