We negotiate a lot of cases in our office and have developed a feel for which insurance companies are reasonable and which ones want to jerk our client around. Way at the top of the worst list, is Allstate Insurance. This insurance company is especially the worst one when we are dealing with a low-speed rear-impact crash. Frequently in these cases, we see offers only a thousand or two above medical expenses. These low-ball offers make if very difficult to resolve the client’s case.

We have learned that Allstate has forsaken its ?good hands? approach for that of boxing gloves in these kinds of cases. They have decided that despite the merits of the case, that they will pay only small amounts to resolve theses cases. This is done with the hopes that attorneys will decline to take these cases because it will not make economic sense to them. Many attorneys have gone along with their hoped-for response and either don?t take these types of Allstate cases or reluctantly settle their cases for pennies on the dollar.

Luckily, there are options when an insurance company such as Allstate is being unreasonable. One such option for the smaller case is to arbitrate it under Utah?s arbitration statute. The recover is capped at $25,000, but for most of these cases, that is a fair ceiling. Another benefit is that an independent arbitrator is evaluating the value of the case, not an insurance adjuster, who is just clearly trying to resolve the case for the lowest cost possible. One other option is to file in court and request a jury trial.

In cases that we have litigated against Allstate Insurance, we are usually been able to significantly increase the offer made by the insurance company as we get close to a trial date. And when they get to a settlement point that is fair and makes sense for the client, the case can many times be settled. It?s just that getting to this point with Allstate can be a long and drawn-out process. One, which we are happy to help with here at the Kramer Law Group. rk