VanMeveren Law Group May 2019
Foundations 970 Are You Really in Good Hands? Decoding Insurance Companies’ Shady Tactics SOUTH 2038 Caribou Drive, Suite 101 Fort Collins, CO 80525 OLD TOWN 123 North College Ave., Suite 112 Fort Collins, CO 80524 MAY 2019
F riendly insurance company slogans continue to be popular in the world of radio, television, and internet advertising. But do the insurance companies honestly stand behind the slogans they spend millions of dollars to promote year after year? Rarely does a day go by in our office when we don’t receive a phone call from a very unhappy prospective client who tells us about the terrible experience they are having with an insurance claims adjuster. Either the adjuster is not being cooperative or the prospective client knows they are being taken advantage of. For most insurance companies, the claims-adjustment process has always been used as a profit center for the company. And how do the insurance companies make a profit by paying out claims? They do it by denying the benefits owed to consumers and paying less-than-fair value while continuing to collect excessive insurance premium payments. State Farm Insurance has been caught red-handed doing this on numerous occasions over the past 40 years. For example, in State Farm v. Campbell, the U.S. Supreme Court noted that State Farm created “a national scheme to meet corporate fiscal goals by capping payouts on claims.” Common tactics employed by State Farm and other insurance companies include withholding important evidence, falsifying claim files, and prejudicing the claimant by unjustly attacking their character and credibility. Many of State Farm’s former employees have testified in various cases over the years saying they were trained to target claimants who were poor, elderly, or uneducated regarding the terms of their rights. These folks were most vulnerable to lowball offers, trickery, and deceit. Adjusters knew how to take advantage of people by asking specific questions and using the claimants’ own words against them. State Farm’s stonewalling tactics are common practice among all the big insurers, including Allstate, Farmers, USAA, and American Family. Each of these insurers have been caught employing schemes designed to increase company profits by preying on the vulnerable.
reasonable range or, at a minimum, what the insurer’s own investigation reveals to be the claim’s value.
At VanMeveren Law Group, we do our part to deter the insurance industry’s abuses by fighting hard every day to obtain reasonable settlement offers for our clients.
As part of this, I have written a new book called “Get It Settled.” It details specific steps you can take to level the playing field and effectively negotiate a fair resolution for your claim — and today, you can get your own free copy! Just give our office a call and request your free hard copy or digital version, which we can email to you instantly, and you too can take advantage of this helpful new resource.
All insurers must be held to their duty to act in good faith. This means they are required by law to promptly offer to settle claims for a value that falls within a
–Bryan VanMeveren
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Our Clients Say It Best
“I was in a car accident that left me with a number of injuries and a lot of questions. The VanMeveren Law Group was able to answer these questions and more. No accident is pleasant and the process can take a while, but the experience that this law group has makes things a lot less stressful. Their professionalism and attentiveness were the reasons I was given the compensation I needed to help with the expenses that come with a car accident.” -Zachary Carrell
What Parents Need to Know About This Media Platform Is Your Teen Watching Twitch? For many parents, the idea of watching someone else play a video game sounds incredibly dull. But as the rise of the streaming site Twitch.tv has shown, young people love cheering on their favorite gaming broadcasters — to the tune of 140 million monthly viewers. Many of those tuning in are teenagers, and a survey by the Washington Post found that over half of the participants ages 14–20 watch at least some streamed video game content. If your teen is one of these viewers, here’s what you need to know. Twitch Is Live Twitch differs from video sites like YouTube because the content is being broadcast live. This means it can’t be filtered as reliably, and even the most family-friendly broadcasters might slip in the occasional swear word or make an inappropriate comment. There is also a live chat feature, meaning your teen can communicate with anyone watching the same stream. This feature can be switched off, but it’s still a good idea to talk to your teen about online safety and the importance of not revealing personal information to strangers. Twitch Broadcasters Solicit Donations While Twitch is free to watch (with ads), the site allows viewers to donate to their favorite broadcasters directly or become paid subscribers. Many broadcasters offer subscriber-only streams, shoutouts, and other bonus content that can make it tempting for impressionable viewers to open their wallets (or those of their parents). It’s best to make sure your teen’s account isn’t tied to any bank information. Why Your Teen Watches Twitch There are many reasons teens watch Twitch streams. If they are into competitive video games like “Fortnite” or “Apex Legends,” they may want to watch skilled streamers to pick up tips and tricks. They could be a fan of an esports team and want to root them on during streamed tournaments, just like you would a football or basketball team. They may even just want to get a feel for what a game is like before they decide to spend their allowance on it. Talking to your teen about the kinds of streams they watch can help you better understand what they get from this new form of media.
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5 Motorcycle Tips That Can Save Your Life Before the Ride
SUDOKU Never buy a used helmet. Whether it’s a bicycle helmet or a motorcycle helmet, once it’s been involved in any type of collision, its integrity is compromised. It will not offer you the protection you need in the event of a crash. Road safety should never be taken for granted. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a car, on a motorcycle, on a bicycle, or if you’re a pedestrian. There are always steps you can take to ensure your safety and the safety of others. When it comes to motorcycles, safety cannot be understated. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and in recognition, we wanted to share a few tips you can take to stay safe on the open road this summer. When buying a motorcycle helmet, look for the DOT (Department of Transportation) sticker. This certified sticker means the helmet meets all required federal safety standards. The National Safety Council also recommends wearing a full-coverage helmet, which offers more protection over open-face helmets. However, should you wear an open-face helmet, pair it with goggles or protective glasses.
When purchasing a motorcycle, buy one that fits you — physically, that is. Test out how you sit in the seat and how your legs and arms fit within the confines of the bike. At the same time, make sure you can handle its power. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, crashes involving supersport bikes have a death rate four times that of other types of cycles. When driving, drive defensively. Half of all motorcycle collisions happen at intersections. Watch all traffic as vehicles pull up to stop signs or lights. Be prepared to slow down, even if you have complete right of way, in order to anticipate any potential moves other drivers may make. Do what you can to make yourself visible. This includes using headlights during the day and night. Wearing bright or reflective clothing can also help you stand out on the road. While many motorcyclists prefer darker colors, the brighter you are, the more likely you will be seen, which reduces your chances of getting in a wreck. This advice also applies to cyclists.
Chipotle Black Bean BURGERS
These vegan, gluten-free chipotle black bean burgers are so full of flavor they will knock the socks off any meat burger!
Ingredients:
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2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed 1/2 medium onion, roughly chopped
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2 teaspoons cumin
1 pinch salt
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1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 handful fresh cilantro
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3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon Sriracha
2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats
1–2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
1.
Place half the black beans, onion, and garlic in your food processor. Blend for 20–30 seconds until combined. Add chipotle, cumin, salt, cornstarch, cilantro, and Sriracha. Blend for another 10–20 seconds. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Stir in oats and remaining black beans. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Formmixture into
patties and carefully transfer to skillet. Cook for about 5–7 minutes until bottom is browned and set. Very carefully flip and cook for an additional 4–6 minutes until opposite side is browned and set as well. Serve immediately, or store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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2038 Caribou Drive, Suite 101 Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-495-9741 www.VanMeverenLaw.com
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INSIDE This Issue Are You Really in Good Hands? Page 1
Is Your Teen Watching Twitch?
What Some People Are Saying About Us Page 2
5 Tips That Can Save Your Life
Chipotle Black Bean Burgers Page 3
3 Things to Do This May Page 4
With These 3 Fort Collins Events Get a Breath of Fresh Air
Larimer County Farmers Market Saturday, May 18 Larimer County Courthouse
Another season of the Larimer County Farmers Market begins Saturday, May 18 at 9 a.m. It’s a great way to kick off the weekend. Grab some breakfast and see what fruits and vegetables are in season. You can even print this handy chart to know when your favorite fruits and vegetables are at their peak: Colorado.gov/pacific/ sites/default/files/ColoradoProduceCalendar.pdf . For more information about this dog-friendly market, see LarimerCountyFarmersMarket.org . 40th Annual Colorado Run Monday, May 27 Spring Canyon Park Before your Memorial Day barbecue, why not head out for a run? The 40th Annual Colorado Run takes place at and around Spring Canyon Park, and the run is part of Veterans Plaza’s annual Memorial Day celebration. The 10K is about 5K uphill and 5K downhill — and it’s a great way to take in all of Fort Collins’ natural beauty around Horsetooth Reservoir. You can find full details as well as info about registration at ColoradoRun.com .
Old Town Car Show Saturday, June 1 Downtown Fort Collins
Hundreds of cars will be on display in Downtown Fort Collins. From hot rods to muscle cars, the streets will be lined with automotive history and culture. The event is free and open to the public. Cars, motorcycles, and other eclectic vehicles will be on display between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
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