The Claims SPOT is now a featured blog for Claims Magazine Identifying opportunities is easier when you know how to SPOT the issues Welcome Claims Magazine readers to The Claims SPOT. I founded The Claims SPOT to be a forum for new ideas and insights into the world of Claims. Bringing together the best and…
Another Bright Idea The Claims SPOT is expanding to provide even more information and updates on issues affecting the world of claims. Over the coming weeks additional contributors will share insight into claims issues and suggest further ways to help claims and claims related entities lower costs and become more efficient. In addition to our…
Claims departments can get into ruts and begin to act like bus companies. As Seth Godin, business author, recently wrote in his blog – “We all have a vision of the typical bus company, slowly moving people from place to place, going through the motions and showing a lot of fatigue.” In this weeks post, I point to some ways claims department can avoid the bus company mentality and figure ways to stay fresh and motivated.
Why are Attorney Evaluation Reports sometimes so light? I was recently conducting an audit of claim files and had the opportunity to review a significant number of Attorney Evaluation reports from a variety of law firms. Like many other things in life, some were better than others. What seemed to be most glaringly consistent was the inability of counsel to truly provide an assessment of exposure and what the case is worth. Every counsel evaluation report should contain 5 basic components that I outline and attorneys should be required to provide their actual valuable opinion. [More…]
It may seem counter intuitive, but with the right technique a heartfelt apology can help lower claims costs and exposures There is a wave of civility sweeping through the world of risk management as a way to lower exposure and reduce costs: Apologize. Maybe mom was right when she stood there and said “now say you’re sorry.” In fact, there are some very impressive statistics in the area of medical malpractice around the simple use of an apology. Regardless, there is a proper way to apologize while protecting rights and some policy considerations to consider.
Files should speak for themselves. A recent California decision is yet another example of what can happen if you don’t document your files and maintain procedures. In this case – it cost $5.83 million.
Creating a new claims system should be easy with no legacy, right? Not so fast! One of the great things about going to work for a start-up insurance company with a lot of venture money is the idea that you can build everything from scratch. No legacy of losses, a clean balance sheet, and no…
On day one as Vice President of Claims for Arch Insurance Company I found myself working in cramped space in Lower Manhattan where the CEO shared an office with others and the head of Professional Liability Underwriting found a happy home in an electrical closet. Arch was rapidly growing its underwriting and was binding new…
9/11 changed everything for a lot of people. I was at my desk at One Liberty Plaza across the street from the World Trade Center when the attacks occurred. I was literally shaken from my desk and the world would never be the same. There were significant emotional and physical issues to deal with. I…
Working at Zurich was a great growing and learning experience. One thing about an insurance company is the need to document and follow procedures. Whether as a defense to a potential bad faith action, or in order to continually justify your actions, there are steps that need to be followed. Managing claims is a very…