Tricks Employed by Workers’ Compensation Adjusters to Devalue Your Claim
Workers’ compensation adjusters are part of the workers’ compensation insurer’s team of individuals who process your claim. While they may play themselves off as your ally, they represent the interests of the insurer and the insurer’s interests are to pay you as little as possible and devalue your claim. In this article, the Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC, will discuss workers’ compensation adjusters and how they work to protect the interests of their employer.
What is a workers’ compensation adjuster?
Insurance adjusters process claims for the insurance company that they work for. They will be the ones to evaluate your claim for the insurance company. To be a savvy advocate on your own behalf, you must understand how these individuals work and what their primary role is. The insurance adjuster’s job is to assess the validity and extent of your claim. They primarily investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury and determine what the appropriate compensation would be in your case.
Common tricks employed by insurance adjusters to devalue your claim
When you are dealing with a workers’ compensation insurance adjuster, it is important to be aware of the many tricks that they will pull to devalue or deny your claim. They have a vested interest in reducing your claim to as little as possible. The insurance company is a for-profit business and they don’t make money by paying out every claim to the maximum. By understanding the tricks that insurance adjusters employ, you will be a more savvy advocate on your own behalf. These include:
- Denying your claim without a proper investigation – This can include rushing to deny your claim without conducting a full investigation or denying an otherwise valid claim based on a technicality.
- Delaying the claims process to exhaust the worker – This can include excessive requests for additional information or delaying the process by failing to respond quickly to the claim.
- Downplaying the severity of your injuries – The workers’ compensation adjuster may downplay the severity of your injuries. You will need medical documentation for every claim that you make.
- Disputing that the injury was caused due to your work – This happens in the cases of repetitive stress injuries. The adjuster can claim that the injury is related to recreational activity as opposed to job-related duties.
- Influencing medical evaluations and treatment plans – The insurance company may use company-approved doctors to minimize the extent of your injuries or limit the recommended treatment options to reduce costs related to your care.
- Offering low-ball settlements to reduce costs – The insurance adjuster may offer you a low-ball settlement to reduce costs related to your care.
All of these are good reasons why you should have a skilled Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer handle your claim on your behalf. The insurance company may not play fair.
Talk to a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
The Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC represent the interests of injured Maryland workers in workers’ compensation claims. Call our Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys today to schedule a free consultation, and we can begin discussing your case right away.
