Disputes with Marine Insurance Adjusters

Do You Need Help Handling your Maritime Injury Claim That is Being Handled by a Marine Insurance Adjuster?

Are you confused about what benefits, medical care, or time loss you are entitled to under Federal Maritime Law? If you have been injured while working as a crewman aboard a ship, tug, barge, fishing boat, or ferry, you should contact an experienced maritime lawyer to learn about your rights to compensation under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law. If you have been injured through negligence or unseaworthiness, you have rights to compensation for pain and suffering, past and future lost wages, lost earning capacity, disability, disfigurement, medical expenses, and loss of enjoyment of life. In almost all cases, you have the no-fault remedy of maintenance and cure and unearned wages.

Understanding the complexities of these Federal Maritime laws requires years of experience. Few crewmen injured at sea know what benefits they are entitled to. Marine insurance companies take advantage of this lack of knowledge and experience to pay as little as possible on each injury claim where an injured crewman is not represented by an experienced maritime lawyer.

Marine Insurance Adjusters: In many cases involving an injured seaman, your claim for benefits will be processed by a marine insurance adjusting firm or an in-house injury claims manager. Many injured seamen mistakenly believe they do not need a lawyer at the start of their injury case. You should know that the marine insurance adjusters are working for the insurance company. They are not on your side, and they do not represent you. They are not ‘independent.” Part of their job as marine insurance adjusters is to gather evidence that will help the vessel owner and their insurance company to defeat your claim. If you have given the insurance adjuster a medical authorization to talk to your treating doctors, they may attempt to obtain medical opinions that are adverse to your case. When surgery or other expensive treatment is prescribed, the marine insurance adjusters may suggest that you see another doctor chosen by them.

Marine insurance companies make money by paying as little in compensation on each claim as is possible. Many injured seamen are disappointed after many months to find out the marine insurance adjusters are not making them a fair offer of settlement. After many months, the insurance companies argue the accident was the injured seaman’s fault, or that there was no negligence or unseaworthiness. They may try to low ball you on a settlement figure to see if you will accept less than fair compensation for your claim.

If you have suffered a serious injury while working at sea, you should contact an experienced Jones Act lawyer. They will protect your rights and fairly evaluate your claim. They are on your side and will represent your interest, not the interest of the insurance company. The maritime lawyers at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC have handled thousands of maritime injury cases. They treat their clients with compassion and understanding. They know how accidents happen at sea and how they can be prevented. The lawyers at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC have proven over and over again they can get fair compensation for injured seamen. They are dedicated to getting you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

The two major marine insurance adjusting firms handling claims in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon are The Polaris Group and Aasgard Summit. You should not give an insurance adjuster a recorded statement without first talking to an experienced maritime personal injury lawyer familiar with Jones Act and Unseaworthiness claims. You have the right to choose your own treating doctors and follow their reasonable medical advice. Understand that these marine adjusting firms are not representing you, they are representing the insurance company and the vessel owner.

Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC does not represent these insurance adjusting firms, or any other marine insurance companies. Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC does not represent Aasgard Summit or The Polaris Group. They are always on the side of the injured seaman. Shouldn’t you have an experienced maritime lawyer on your side to help you through the complexities and difficulties of understanding maritime law and your right to benefits and compensation? Don’t guess about your rights to benefits. Contact a lawyer at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC for a free initial consultation.