Most Lawyers Will Tell You Yes.
There’s no mistake about it. Some insurers just won’t pay as much as others do for the same injury.
What accounts for this? Sometimes it’s different adjusters. Sometimes it’s different training. Sometimes it’s different settlement procedures. Sometimes it’s different philosophies.
Allstate – and other companies – have for years had a computer program that evaluates the value of injuries based on a number of factors. (Allstate’s program is called Colossus.) No one knows what the factors are, but they probably include total medical bills, severity of injury, permanency, facts of the injury.
Demographic traits of the victim, or the defendant? They will certainly consider age, particularly when the injury is permanent. As to other factors, no one knows, although I would think any corporation would be reluctant to allow such considerations into any decisionmaking process.
Personality traits of the victim, or the defendant? Probably not – these are hard to quantify – but they definitely affect a lawyer’s evaluation of his case.
Philosophy of whoever’s writing the check? I can tell you for a fact that some manufacturers are cheaper settling cases than insurance companies.
And I know of one department store chain that has as an object retention of the victim as a customer. You don’t see that with most insurance companies, who are usually being sued by someone who decided not to buy a policy from them in the first place.
Some insurance companies factor in the cost of hiring a lawyer to defend the lawsuit. Others don’t, believing that they will save more money by “playing tough” on your case, even if they have to hire a lawyer.
Different companies look at different factors when evaluating a lawsuit. And they have different objectives in settlement. This might not be fair, but it is what happens.
I have been a lawyer over 30 years. If you don’t think the other side is making their best offer, your alternative is usually a lawsuit. If you have a personal injury case in Cincinnati, Ohio or if you want to know what your lawsuit is worth, talk with an experienced Cincinnati Injury Lawyer about the case. Call me, William Strubbe, at 513-621-4775.
Because all situations are different, and because there may be other facts pertaining to your case that I don’t know about, you should not rely on this answer for legal advice. I am not your attorney, and no lawyer client relationship has been formed. And past performance cannot be used to predict future results.
{ 0 comments… add one }