MCCARTHY, ROWDEN & BAKER

Conservative Insurers, Adjusters and Opposing Counsel

This article explores how the relationship that exists between counsel for the opposition and the insurance adjuster affects you and your Macon County personal injury attorney.

A Common Misconception
While personal injury lawyers who are fairly new in their profession often take the position that the mere threat of litigation is enough to send an insurer running for cover, their more experienced counterparts know that this is not the case. The reality is that one thing that conservative insurers, regardless of size, all have in common is that they are perfectly capable of retaining skilled legal counsel and will not hesitate to do so if they see the necessity.The Risk to You
The minute a personal injury case is turned over to the insurer’s legal counsel, they will tear it apart until they find a weakness that forces the case to go to court. At this point, it is out of the adjuster’s hands. Counsel for the defense, along with the litigation claims manager, picks up the gauntlet from there. Knowing this, your attorney is less likely to resort to legal action than to look for another means of resolution for cases that range from small to medium in scope.Picking Up On the Cues
As negotiations ensue with the insurance adjuster, your Macon County personal injury lawyer will watch this person carefully. If the adjuster points out faults in the case, there is little reason to expect a generous settlement. Instead, if the adjuster can raise doubts concerning the liability involved or injuries sustained, the offer will be reduced. If the next offer shows only a small increase, legal action is probably indicated.

Possible Courses of Action
Once the plaintiff’s counsel has answered the questions above, based on those answers, the personal injury lawyer will be able to see how large the division is between his client and the adjuster. If the gap is considerable, then mediation may be appropriate. Whenever possible, experienced personal injury lawyers prefer to negotiate. Failing that, however, the last resort is legal action.

Make Your Case Our Case
Put a skilled, dedicated and experienced Macon County personal injury attorney to work on your personal injury case. Call McCarthy Rowden & Baker at 800-373-6050 today.