How to Handle Claims Adjusters

Whether you have a motor vehicle injury, work injury, or dog bite the insurance company representative will often want to speak with you.

The insurance company adjuster’s job is to gather information and medical documents that may be used to deny your claim or reduce the offer that the insurance company will make to you.

Whether the adjuster takes a recorded statement or takes notes of your conversation the focus will be on the details of how the accident happened and your injuries and the treatment of them.

The problem is that the insurance company and its lawyer may use this information against you in a deposition or trial.

For instance, if you tell the adjuster during your statement that the car that hit you was going 20 miles an hour but two years later at a deposition you testify that the car was going 35 miles an hour then you will face intense questioning. Why did you change your story? Wasn’t your memory closer to the time of the accident a better recollection?

If the insurance company wants to question you  and gather information make sure that you secure the assistance of an injury attorney to protect your interests.

Questions about your work injury or motor vehicle injury? Feel free to contact Illinois injury lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

New rules go into effect for Social Security disability claims | Fox 59

WASHINGTON D.C. — It may soon be harder to file a disability claim with the Social Security Administration.New regulations, which went into effect on Monday, are eliminating the so-called “treating-physician rule.”Until now, the rule required benefits adjudicators to give significant weight to a physician’s report supporting an applicant’s claim for benefits.

Source: New rules go into effect for Social Security disability claims | Fox 59

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The truth is that Administrative Law Judges have been ignoring the treating physician’s opinion for years. The rule will just embolden this behavior. How is it possible to give weight to a doctor who is paid from SSA, has never seen the claimant and only relies on the medical records.

Lawsuit blames First Student, bus driver for crash | Local Crime & Courts | pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON — A Bloomington man seriously injured when his motorcycle collided with a school bus carrying Unit 5 students has filed a lawsuit against First Student and the bus driver,

Source: Lawsuit blames First Student, bus driver for crash | Local Crime & Courts | pantagraph.com

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Most motor vehicle crashes do not have a video. Therefore, the video will play a major role in the case. Defenses raised will be the speed of the motorcyclist and the witnesses to the crash.

Public Safety: 2 injured in B-N bus-car crash | Local News | pantagraph.com

Bus-car crash — Two passengers on a Connect Transit bus suffered minor injuries following a crash Tuesday evening in Bloomington.

Source: Public Safety: 2 injured in B-N bus-car crash | Local News | pantagraph.com

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A bus passenger may seek damages against the driver of another vehicle whose negligence causes injuries to the passenger.

124 Illinois prison nurses get layoff notices – Chicago Tribune

The 124 union nurses working in Illinois prisons have received layoff notices, according to a letter from Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Source: 124 Illinois prison nurses get layoff notices – Chicago Tribune

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The budget and union contract fight is getting serious and nasty.

Looks like a step toward privatizing a number of State services.