“Dateline” TV Program Exposes

Insurance Company Mishandling

Accident Claims

Accident victims are regularly advised to have a lawyer’s help when making a claim to an insurance company, as insurance companies are notorious for mishandling accident claims.  The television program “Dateline” recently did a 15-month investigation that exposed just how far some insurance companies will go to increase their profits by denying valid claims.

“Dateline” focused on the story of Lucretia D., an older woman whose car was hit by a truck.  Lucretia had no broken bones, but did have severe muscle and joint pain.  She made a claim to her insurance company. They sent her medical records to an outside company which supposedly has doctors review the records and then tell the insurance company how much to settle the claim for.  The company said Lucretia’s injuries were not that bad, and suggested paying less than 10% of her medical bills.

“Dateline’s” investigation showed that the company that reviewed Lucretia’s medical records was a sham.  The people who supposedly checked the records were not even doctors.  Worse, in some cases when doctors looked at medical records, insurance company workers fraudulently altered documents to make it look like the victim’s injuries were not as bad as they really were.

“Dateline’s” report is yet another example of how insurance companies will go to great lengths just to protect their profits.  It is a reminder that accident victims need an experienced lawyer on their side when making a claim so they won’t fall victim twice — once at the accident and the next time at the hands of an insurance company.