Dealing With Henry Hard-Nose ~ The Typical Insurance Adjuster

Writen by Dan Baldyga

Most adjusters function like Henry Hard-Nose of Rock Solid Insurance Corporation. They’re thick skinned and difficult to deal with. Below is a typical verbal exchange a month or so after you and Hard-Nose had last met in an attempt to settle. At that time he had taken the position that the injury to your shoulder was not as serious as your attending physicians Medical Report stated it was. (Question: Do they fight what your attending physician wrote in their report? Answer: Yes, absolutely! Take it from Dan, who was on that firing line for over 30 years).

The following is a typical verbal settlement exchange after your last meeting had ended “up in the air” - - slowing floating around out there in outer space.

You first - - and here’s the counter argument you should make: “Look, with all due respect, you are not a doctor. You’re no medical expert who has the know-how to second-guess my doctor. When we last met you said my shoulder was ‘only a bruise’ as opposed to a dislocation. I have again talked to my doctor and he remains firm about the accuracy of his original diagnosis. He states that I absolutely suffered a dislocation of my shoulder. But, even apart from his analysis, I’m the best judge of my own injury - - that is, how painful my life has been, and the suffering I’ve had to endure”.

At that point Hard-Nose will always attempt his usual tactic of interrupting your logic but stiffen up, wave him off and say, “Look, let me finish. You owe me that because it was your insured who flew through a Stop Sign and bashed into me. You and I both know he’s one hundred percent at fault and if this talk about settling for my “pain and discomfort” gets any more one-sided I’m gonna be left with no choice but to hire myself a lawyer.”

Hard-Nose will stiffen up! Now, you proceed, “How is it sir, that its been over three months since this accident and there are times when I still suffer excruciating pains? How is it that I can’t lift things like I used to? The truth is it hurts, it bothers me and it has disabled me. I’ve been enduring it but it’s been awful and it has disrupted my life terribly. My shoulder is not a ‘mere bruise’ to me sir. Neither does my doctor say it is. He states that my shoulder was definitely dislocated and it will take several more months to clear up”!

All of the above is an example of your central approach to the predictably belligerent, difficult-to-deal-with adjuster. You should be firm and aggressive but not hostile. Yours should be a thoughtful presentation that relies on the power and persuasiveness of a sound demand adequately documented and properly communicated.

The three crucial questions you must ask Hard-Nose are:(#1) How much will you pay me for the damage to my motor vehicle and all other provable property damage? (#2) How much will you pay me as a fair settlement for my provable lost wages and medical expenses? (#3) How much will you pay me for my disability and my “Pain and Suffering”?

In most instances Hard-Nose will head for the hills - - unwilling to give you a straight answer. He’ll sidestep and do a slow waltz by asking you a loaded question like, “Okay, what do you think your claim is worth?”

Such a question is predictable because Hard-Nose prefers that you’re the one who makes the settlement demand first. Why? Because you may ask for less than what he was preparing to offer! And also because, if you make an excessive demand, he won’t have committed himself to an offer which will have left no room for further negotiations. In other words, Hard-Nose is in his best position to exercise “command and control” over the manipulation (and setting) of the dollar amount to be paid when it’s you that makes the settlement demand first, rather than he making the settlement offer. Don’t provide him with this advantage!

To win this crucial “game” he must suspect you’re close to obtaining a lawyer to handle your case so you should insist on the offer (one that’s realistic and made in good faith) to come from him before you make your demand. Why? Because at that point it’s all about who gets to control the value of your claim - - you or Hard-Nose?

It’s not sufficient for Hard-Nose to merely come up with a phony offer. You must insist upon, and hold out, until he makes the first offer and that it’s a realistic one. Then, and only then, is when you should respond with your own first counter-demand. Up until that point never let him know what you’d be willing to settle for. If you do you’ll lose control and that could cost you big bucks!

To learn more about how to handle and evaluate your motor vehicle accident claim, read Dan Baldyga’s latest book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss). It can be found on the internet at http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com or your favorite bookstore.

Copyright (c) 2003 by Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved

DISCLAIMER: This claim tip ~ DEALING WITH HENRY HARD-NOSE ~ THE TYPICAL INSURANCE ADJUSTER is intended for background information. It’s purpose is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Dan Baldyga makes any guarantee of any kind whatsoever NOR purports to engage in rendering any professional legal service, substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired IT IS THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN IT.

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How to Get a Moving Truck Rental: A Beginner’s Guide

Writen by John Mancini

In a world where many people own smaller vehicles and larger homes, moving truck rentals have become a popular choice when it comes time to relocate belongings to a new home or office. There are some things that you should know, however, that will make the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Before you agree to rent a truck, inspect it. The rental company will have a standard form for you to fill out. While doing the inspection, look for things such as dents, scratches and rust. Be sure to check out the latches and locks on the doors as well. By documenting the items wrong with the truck before you rent it will mean that you won’t be charged for the damage later.

At the time of rental, you will need to show certain personal documents. These will include a driver’s license, your personal proof of insurance and a major credit card. These documents are needed to prove that you are of legal age to rent the truck (usually 25), that you have personal auto accident insurance available, and that they can secure payment from you.

Today’s technology makes it easier than every to reserve a moving truck. It is possible to do almost all of your research and to make reservations either online or over the phone. While this technology can make doing business easier, it is always a wise decision to actually speak with the company that you want to do business with face to face. This will help to avoid any misunderstandings.

Depending upon the size of the moving truck rental, you need and where you are traveling, you may need to stop at weigh stations along the way. It’s best to ask the rental company if they have any knowledge of the truck being big enough for this requirement. Also, call the state police in all the states you will be traveling through to get the specific requirements for each state.

Shop around and inquire about prices and specials as well as other options that may be offered to you when you rent a moving truck. Look for a company that has high standards for their trucks as well as their towing equipment, this may be more expensive, but worth it in the long run. Ask if the company offers unlimited mileage, if not, find out how much extra miles will cost you.

Lastly, before you drive off the rental lot with your moving truck, you will need to get copies of all of the important documents from the rental company. These could include the rental agreement, a driver trip report, a truck inspection sheet and any other paperwork that the rental company suggests. Check to be sure that the proof of insurance and the registration are also in the truck.

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Innovations in Auto Glass, Part II

Writen by Lance Winslow

Auto glass is one of the fastest moving areas of technology in the auto sector. There is talk of displaying information on the glass for the driver so they do not have to look down and take their eyes off the road. There is in development a pop-up piece of glass, which will allow driver to see in fog. There is whispering windows, which will send vibrations into the glass to warn you of dangers ahead. There are now devices, which will break up the ice on the window. There are defroster elements in the glass as well as radio antennas. We have double pained glass for sound, bulletproof glass for enemies and safety glass in case of accidents. Now then lets discuss part II of innovations in Auto Glass. Sounds spectacular right?

Now then with frequency power used to break up ice on windshields has a big advantage and this same technology can be used on tires to heat them up and remove ice. Very good and think of the tire safety on school buses and critical vehicles? Now then a systems man for an automotive company, which specializes in Smart-Car Systems in modern automobiles says;

“Another method for de-icing could be similar to windshield washer fluid dispersion. A selector switch located in the vehicle cockpit for windshield washer fluid or de-icing fluid. The fluid could be the same that the airline industry uses - of course, environmentally safe. This would eliminate the necessity for windshield design changes and problematic electrical issues associated with high current heating.”

Now then he is also correct because it would be simple that way with less chance of Murphy-ism; hard to disagree. The high-frequency thing also has issues with the bandwidth it might use, as frequency pollution, causing issues with electronics of other sorts. But from what they say, the high-frequency, would only send a couple of pulses and it is really quick as liquid to melt ice away takes longer. Sometimes ice forms so quickly it can catch you off guard like a quick fog sometimes does when the out side air and cabin temperature are quite different all of a sudden of course this is also due to change in barometric pressure, but ice can also form rapidly, especially in an aircraft where the temperature changes on average of 2 degrees per thousand feet.

Another problem they did not talk about or may not be aware of is that the glass these days is quite impressive with different layers of film, self-cleaning and hydrophobic coatings as well as after market appearance people like auto detailers.

Some of the products put on windows are done at the factory level and can come off as easy as with vinegar and water, but a storm water blast, ice or even acid rain they will not (well not as easy-depends). PPG and many other companies make titanium dioxide coatings and many window manufacturers are now making self-cleaning glass, which also holds some advantages to this market. And if the Global Warming Debate is real enough then as things get worse weather will get less predictable from past Farmer’s Almanac Data and more fierce storms. (Climate Cliff).

The electric windows work the best in aviation where they heat off the ice. When the liquid is shot onto the windscreen of an aircraft the slip stream of airflow sends it all the way back across the aircraft making it a problem for aircraft paints which are quite high performance for instance PPG has an aircraft paint which weighs in at less than 200 lbs, for an entire color scheme on a Southwest Airlines 737, no kidding. Such de-ice fluid when concentrated sends a constant flow across the fuselage and it looks bad and is hard to clean off. I know this from personal experience; www.AircraftWashGuys.com .

If you put a car in a wind tunnel and cross-shot the de-ice fluid against the window and had a small flair piece on the corners of the windshields, then you could get the fluid to depart the boundary layer and slip stream of the car. This might cause a small decrease in efficiency from parasite drag, but a car going less than 130 mph, would hardly notice since the hyperbolic curve of drag would not be top end yet. Also two NASA style air scoops could suck the fluid back into the openings and send it under the car. I guess the problem is more the sensor to anticipate the driver’s needs before it is an issue and then use very little fluid so as not to be a problem.

Rather than getting too fancy as I am discussing. KISS is the best method so in fact the systems SmartCar Software individual is correct. Now then there has been issues on fighter jets where ice broke off and was sucked into the intake and then hit the fan blades and cause the engine to go out and some where the engine came apart, causing a fire and led to ejection and loss of aircraft as the pilot went for the ride of his life in the ejection seat. So simply breaking the ice is the first issue, some believe melting the ice is better. Because when the ice breaks off where does it go? Who will it hurt and what will it hit? There can be damage with Antennas, back trunk lids, wings on the back trunk or even cause a problem for the occupants of cars traveling behind you. Think on this.

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