Page 32 - Chris Book.docx

Chapter 11: Do I Need a Lawyer?

Many people after an accident believe that an insurance company,
in a benevolent fashion, will pay all damages in a fair and prompt manner.
In my opinion, this is far from the truth! Insurance companies are for-

profit enterprises whose goal is to make as much profit for their
shareholders as possible. The motto of many insurance companies is to:
1) Deny the claim altogether; but when

that tactic no longer works;
2) Delay the claim if possible; and then,

3) Defend the claim by trying to discredit
the claimant and pay as little in damages
as possible.

Here is a typical scenario: You are involved in an accident caused
by Negligent Ned. You contact Ned’s insurance company and explain that

the accident report clearly placed Negligent Ned at fault. However, the
insurance company denies the claim and refuses accept responsibility until
they can “get a statement from their insured.” Once the insurance

company does reach their insured and realizes there is no way around the
fact that their insured is responsible for the accident, the insurance
company will then go into delay mode. During this time, the insurance

company may ask you to fill out irrelevant documents and request medical
records for unrelated conditions. They then undergo a “review process”
of the medical records and documents requested. Once the insurance

company has completed its review of your claim, then they move into
defend mode. Their goal is to use whatever documentation they have

gathered to discredit your claim for medical expenses and pain and
suffering and offer you the least amount possible. For example, the
insurance company will use an authorization to request medical records

against you by looking through voluminous amounts of prior records in
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