3 TRICKS YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM ADJUSTER USES TO APPEAR LIKE YOUR ‘FRIEND’
MEET KISMET, A DENTIST’S TOOTHLESS THERAPY DOG Therapy pets can have a powerful impact on dental patients, especially if those patients have anxiety. “The studies are very clear: People who sit and pet animals have lower blood pressure, and that’s what it's all about,” Dr. Cameron Garrett told TODAY when the world found out about Kismet. Garrett’s dental practice employs the adorable 13-year-old Chihuahua rescue as a therapy animal that patients can hold and pet while they get dental work done. Kismet’s life has not been easy. The Muttville Senior Dog Rescue has invested thousands of dollars into Kismet’s health — they diagnosed her with heart disease, removed a cancerous tumor, treated a hernia, and removed all of her teeth due to periodontal disease. Yet, Kismet remains a very sweet dog. She never barks and loves back scratches and being held. It’s especially amazing that the toothless Kismet found such a perfect new home with dental professionals! This past July, Cameron Garrett and his wife, Debra Garrett (a hygienist), adopted Kismet into their home as well as their dental practice. The serene dog has provided a special experience for patients who come for exams, cleanings, and even root canals. Of course, some patients are scared of dogs. In those cases, Kismet relaxes behind a closed gate. But over 98% of patients happily take Kismet on their laps while they undergo their dental procedure. Cameron Garrett told CNN, “Quite honestly, as a dentist, I’m as much a psychiatrist or psychologist as anything else. Kismet has allowed us to have another tool in our toolbox.” They can even use the toothless pup’s story to teach patients about the effects of periodontal disease. Getting love from patients also helps Kismet. “She just wants to be with us,” Debra Garrett explained. The new owners suspect that she was abused in the past and is still recovering from that trauma. “When she is on a patient’s lap, she’s providing them comfort, but she’s also getting comfort. It’s hard for me to describe how nice it is for me to be looking at her while I’m working. It’s just a win-win all the way around.”
Insurance companies aren’t your friend.
Your claim adjuster is hired to adjust your claim to the lowest possible number. Talking to the adjuster directly, no matter how friendly they may seem, can be a tragic mistake. Here are three red flags so you won’t fall victim to these tricks. 1. THEY’LL TRY TO GET YOU TO SETTLE RIGHT AWAY. After an accident, your adjuster will seem friendly by wanting to put money into your hands immediately. Wow , you might think. I have the best insurance ever. This is a common ploy to make you think just that. We have experienced countless examples of well-intending motorcycle crash victims who have settled with the wrongdoer’s insurance company prematurely. In some cases, the full extent of their injuries and damages were not yet quantified. Once settled, your claim cannot be adjusted. In other instances, people fail to gain permission from their own insurance company and are precluded from filing a UIM (underinsured motorist) claim with their own company. 2. WHILE CONSOLING YOU, ADJUSTERS TALK ABOUT COMPLEX ISSUES THAT YOU WON’T COMPLETELY FOLLOW. Using big words is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to misleading people. To be fair, injury law can be very complex, especially when it comes to paying back your health insurance. Medicare, Medicaid, and other liens are all required to be paid back by law. Your lawyer will know how to negotiate these liens downs and will also identify all coverage types that may apply, which could include UIM (underinsured motorists), umbrella policies, and more. 3. THEY’LL SAY YOU WON’T NEED A LAWYER. You might hear your adjuster imply that you don’t want to deal with lawyers, and they might try to intimidate you with potential costs. What they don’t say is that it could cost you far, far more in health bills and, depending on the severity of the accident, time away from work or unemployment. Hire an honest legal team that charges “contingency” fees, as we do at Sevenish Law. Using this kind of fee, you pay absolutely nothing at the beginning of your case, and a percentage of your claim is agreed upon beforehand, so you’re never surprised by attorney fees later on. It’s important to have an experienced motorcycle injury lawyer to level the playing field and speak the same language as the adjuster. Getting the legal defender that you deserve is completely affordable and can save you thousands.
Our hearts are officially melted. It’s only fitting for a pet hero to have heroic owners, too!
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