CNN INVESTIGATION SHOWS LOCAL LAW FIRM WAS RIGHT ABOUT AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES.

A recent CNN investigation shows injured victims are now in for the fight of their lives just to get auto insurance companies to pay for the damages caused by their insureds.  Most auto insurance companies are adopting a “take-it-or-leave-it” strategy that NETS THE INSURANCE COMPANIES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF ACCIDENT VICTIMS!

CNN’s 18-month-in-depth investigation involved minor-impact soft tissue crashes.  However, Attorney Ilan Wexler, a partner in the law firm of Anzellotti, Sperling, Pazol & Small, states that “Even in cases of severely injured victims the insurance companies are often unwilling to acknowledge the full extent of the medical costs and pain suffered by the victims.”  Wexler further noted, “this strategy forces victims to seek the help of an attorney in order to obtain justice and fair compensation.” 

The strategy, according to former Allstate and State Farm employee James Mathis, who was quoted in CNN’s investigative report, relies on what’s called “THE 3 Ds” ­ Deny the claim … Delay the settlement … and if necessary, Defend against the claim in court.  

Mathis was quoted as saying “the profits are good and as long as the public allows this to occur, the insurance companies will get richer and richer and victims will not get a fair and reasonable settlement.”

This strategy was actually developed with the assistance of a consulting firm, McKinsey & Co., CNN reported.

ONE DOCUMENT CNN REVEALED SHOWS THE CONSULTANT’S RECOMMENDATION TO ALLSTATE THAT IT “PUT BOXING GLOVES ON ITS ‘GOOD HANDS’” PLAYING OFF ALLSTATE’S FAMOUS SLOGAN, “YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH ALLSTATE.”

Although the president of the Insurance Information Institute told CNN that these kinds of strategies are needed to fight fraud, Attorney Wexler believes there’s no justification for this type of anti-victim strategy on the part of insurance companies.

“Insurance company adjusters frequently advise victims that they should accept the company’s settlement offer and that hiring a lawyer is unnecessary,” Wexler says. “But this isn’t true.  In fact, a large insurance company’s own internal study revealed that injury victims with attorneys get settlements or verdicts that are two to three times larger than what unrepresented claimants get.  These insurance companies are in business to maximize profits and pay victims as little as possible.  They try to accomplish these goals by using strategies to minimize payments to those who have been injured.  As advocates for injured victims, we have extensive experience in battling these tactics.”

For more than forty years Anzellotti, Sperling, Pazol & Small has been the Mahoning Valley’s advocate for senior citizens, injured victims, and their families.  Anzellotti, Sperling, Pazol & Small … YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER FOR JUSTICE!