Negotiating Auto Injury and UM/UIM Claims With Insurance Companies

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Inside Auto Insurance Companies
   10:00 - 10:45, T. Kevin Knight
   1. Auto Insurance Policies: Interpretation, Issues, Hidden Treasures
   2. Accident Investigation Strategies: Secrets Adjusters Don't Want You to Know
   3. How Auto Insurance Companies Value Claims
   4. Colossus Insights
   5. How Reserves Are Set
   6. Adjuster Authority
2. Calculating Damages and Drafting Auto Injury Demand Letters
   10:45 - 11:30, Mark S. Kardos
   1. Medical Expenses: Past and Future
   2. Paid vs. Billed Medical Services
   3. Vehicle Damage and Diminished Value
   4. Lost Earnings and Earning Capacity
   5. Pain, Suffering, and Other Non-Economic Damages
   6. Punitive Damages
   7. Putting Together a Killer Demand Package
   8. Sample Demand Letter
3. Negotiating With Auto Insurance Adjusters
   11:45 - 12:30, T. Kevin Knight
   1. Timing Strategy
   2. Negotiating Styles: Yours and the Adjuster's
   3. Negotiating Tips and Tactics
   4. Pointers for Dealing With Difficult Adjusters
   5. Spotting Bad Faith Negotiating Tactics and Addressing it With the Insurer
   6. Addressing Liens in Settlement Negotiations
   7. Settlement Agreements and Releases
4. UM/UIM Coverage and Negotiation Insights
   12:30 - 1:15, Michael J. Progar
   1. Key Definitions and Determining Coverage
   2. Exclusions and Case Law
   3. Conditions and Questions of Prejudice
   4. Stacking Made Simple
   5. Offsets and Subrogation
   6. UM/UIM Carrier Bad Faith
   7. Negotiating UM/UIM Claims - and Avoiding Critical Mistakes
5. Tips for Negotiating Different Auto Injury Claims: Cars, Motorcycles, Trucks, and More
   1:45 - 2:30, T. Kevin Knight
   1. Passenger Vehicle Injury Claims
   2. Motorcycle Injury Claims
   3. Bicycle Injury Claims
   4. Pedestrian Injury Claims
   5. Truck Injury Claims
   6. Multi-Vehicle Accidents
   7. Dram Shop Liability Claims
   8. Product Liability Claims
   9. Car Accident Claims Against the Government
6. Negotiating Tactics for MIST, Pre-Existing Injury, and Other Challenging Claims
   2:30 - 3:00, Michael J. Progar
7. Negotiating Wrongful Death Auto Injury Claims
   3:15 - 4:00, T. Kevin Knight
   1. Calculating Damages
   2. Collecting Compensation Beyond Policy Limits
   3. Working With the Probate Court and Personal Representative
   4. Negotiating Wrongful Death Settlements
8. Legal Ethics
   4:00 - 5:00, Jannat Nalwa
   1. Conflicts of Interest
   2. Client Communications and Managing Expectations
   3. Meritorious Claims and Contentions
   4. Truthfulness in Negotiations
   5. Obligations to Lienholders
   6. Representing Minors and Clients With Diminished Capacity

Accreditation Details:

Mark S. Kardos is the principal in the Law Offices of Kardos & Goch, where he has litigated personal injury cases in Philadelphia for more than 42 years with several verdicts published in the Pennsylvania Jury Reporter and The Verdict (publication of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association). He also serves as a judge pro tem for the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Mr. Kardos earned his B.S. degree from Millersville University and his J.D. degree from the University of Baltimore Law School.

T. Kevin Knight is a partner in the law offices of DSK Law. Mr. Knight is board certified as a trial lawyer by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Over the course of his practice, he has generally focused on personal injury litigation. Mr. Knight earned his B.S.B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Florida and his J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law. 

Jannat Nalwa is an attorney with Seigel Law and has experience in all aspects of personal injury law focusing on motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death actions, dog bites, premises liability and much more.  Ms. Nalwa received her BA from University of Western Ontario and her JD from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. 

Michael J. Progar is a partner and founding member of Doherty & Progar LLC, with more than 40 years of experience in representing the interests of insurance companies, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. As lead counsel, he has tried more than 50 jury trials to verdict. Mr. Progar practices primarily in the areas of personal injury, employment law, and insurance coverage. He is admitted to practice in the states of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois. Mr. Progar earned his B.A degree from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law.