Adjuster

NOT A ONE-TRICK PONY

/ David Morse & Associates / Leave a comment

Claimant dreams of insurance-derived wealth can complicate the most simple of claims. It may not be in my own interest to view such dreams with a critical eye, since the carrier’s need for an adjuster in the field Is a common result of an inconsistency between facts and demands.

Trucking accidents seem to generate a disproportionate number of such claimants and so I have dealt with more than a few. In this particular case our insured was clearly liable – he was rolling to a stop at a red light and failed to stop before rear-ending the claimant. The result was minor damage to the rear bumper of claimant’s pickup truck. At the scene the claimant does not seek medical attention or complain of injury.

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Waste Product Troubles on U.S. Roads

/ David Morse & Associates / Leave a comment

It was a morning truck loss call. Started out like many others, two trucks involved, disputed lane change. No injuries reported, but lots of damage. Then I found out the claimant truck was hauling ‘human solid waste’, and it was tipped over. I knew right then that this assignment was going to stink.

When I arrived on scene with my trainee, we immediately spoke to the officer on scene. We obtained his permission to park out of the way and talk to the people involved. We were also given permission to take pictures. I had the trainee take photos of the vehicles, the scene (including what was now escaping from the claimant truck) and get the license plate and VIN information. (Thank heaven for trainees. This one is going to make it – excellent photos despite environmental challenges.)

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A DAY IN THE LIFE

/ David Morse & Associates / Leave a comment

Truck Adjusting in Southern CA

I am an after-hours truck adjuster for David Morse & Associates (DMA). A successful truck adjuster makes life easier for the examiner and company assigning – and that means making settlement possible at the earliest possible juncture. If he or she can do that, there will be plenty of work assigned.

This is the story of a routine assignment that came in very early on a Tuesday morning – nothing spectacular, but a demonstration of effective adjusting that supports rapid file closure. We got to the scene (not always easy in Southern California on a weekday morning). Our driver and his damaged rig were on the shoulder, having rear-ended another big rig when traffic stopped suddenly. We waited for a wrecker to arrive and tow the equipment away. I then gave the driver a ride to his company’s yard.

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“Where the #!@&% is that #!@&%# bulldozer?!?”

/ David Morse & Associates / Leave a comment

The hard part about produce salvage after a truck spill on the freeway isn’t the sorting and moving of the material. Not if you have the manpower. And the hard part is not getting the manpower to the scene in the required 30- 45 minute time frame. Not if you know who to call. The hard part is not the drivers on that stretch of freeway – even California’s craziest motorists brake for several tons of cantaloupes.

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