GRANITE LAW
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GRANITE LAW |
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Allstate Is At It AgainFrom the The Connecticut Law Tribune comes word that Allstate Insurance is at it again. Attorney Robert I. Reardon is suing Allstate Insurance Co. for fraud as well as bad faith, in its "Do-I-Need-an-Attorney?" campaign.The lawsuit is on behalf of injured people with claims against Allstate who say they were discouraged from retaining a lawyer. The plaintiffs said it cost them dearly and Allstate's own studies seem to support such a view. According to a 1995 Allstate training manual, in settlements under $15,000, claimants without lawyers averaged $3,464. Those with counsel averaged $7,450. Even with the standard 33% contingency, claimants make out much better having legal representation. The attorney for Allstate argued that Allstate simply has no legal duty "to settle fairly with third party claimants." It is hard to believe they would actually say that. Allstate distributed pamphlets which emphasized that unrepresented claimants can get paid faster and don't have to share the settlement with a lawyer. True enough, but the pamphlets don't say whether the claimant is likely to get more or less money. Our advice is to consult an attorney before you ever settle anything with any insurance company. If you have an offer, a good attorney will evaluate and tell you if you should take it. If you would like more information on this subject or if you have a specific question about this subject, feel free to call Attorney Roy Weddleton at (603) 228-1151 or e-mail him at roy@granitelaw.com. |
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