I know that sounds harsh. Maybe even cynical. But I spent the early part of my legal career working for large companies and corporate defendants. I know how they think, how they budget, and how they decide whether to pay a claim. And I can tell you with complete confidence: the adjuster who called you after your loss is not your friend.
Here’s the business model (in case you haven’t read the front page of my website!): insurance companies collect premiums from millions of policyholders every month. The longer they hold on to that money before paying it out and the less they pay when they do, the more profit they make. Every dollar they keep is a dollar they didn’t have to give you. Trust me guys I’m not being cynical here, but that is capitalism 101.
The publicly-traded company playbook.
When your roof gets torn up in a storm or a pipe bursts in your wall, the insurance company dispatches an adjuster. That adjuster works for the insurance company. Similar to how you’re evaluated at work on your performance and productivity, they are evaluated, at least in part, on how efficiently they close claims.
“Efficiently” rarely means “generously.”
So what do they do? They write up a scope of damage that conveniently leaves out half the work that needs to be done. They blame pre-existing wear and tear. They invoke exclusions buried in the fine print that barely fit the bill (if at all). They offer you a number that they hope sounds just real enough to make you think it’s fair.
A lot of people take that number. And a lot of people end up paying out of pocket for the rest of the repair. Repairs that the policy – your contract with your insurance company – was supposed to cover.
I started Etheridge Law PLLC because I believe policyholders deserve the same quality of legal representation that insurance companies have had for decades. You paid your premiums. You held up your end. Now it’s time to make them hold up theirs.
If your claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid – call me. The consultation is free, and I’ll tell you honestly what I think your options are.
