Claim From the Great BeyondYears ago, I was an adjuster for a large commercial carrier. We insured an eatery where a customer submitted a food poisoning claim. In a statement, she told me that after eating there, she tossed and turned until 2:00 am. The statement ended as follows:
| Claimant: |
“I was in such pain. I broke into a sweat. I got the chills, and then I died.” |
| Adjuster: |
“Excuse me?” |
| Claimant: |
“I died from the pain.” |
| Adjuster: |
“Well, if you died how is it that I am talking to you now?” |
| Claimant: |
(after a pause)...“I came back.” |
What a miracle!
—Pat B., Indianapolis, IN
Staff Claims Manager/Supervisor
Getting Personal with Claimants
You must remember that you may be communicating personal information without intending to do so—bumper stickers, decals in the window of your vehicle, that sports logo clipboard and warmup jacket may reveal more than you think. I handled seven losses for one commercial client in Kansas City, Missouri, following a hail storm. I could not find a hail hit on any of the worn out roofs. The insured accompanied me on the last inspection. Again, not a mark on the worn out roofs. That complaint letter was a beauty and got me sent home. The insured made a few reasonable extrapolations from viewing my truck. I had a rather nice NRA sticker in the rear window, a sticker from the NRA National Competitions and a roundel from my branch of military service.
“In our conversation we discussed the adjuster’s Vietnam service, as well as his idea of a perfect firearm.”
OOPS!
—Tom M., Boyne City, MI
Independent Claims Adjuster
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