3/25/2010

What are value drivers?

Value Drivers are $Money$

A value driver is any information that is used by insurers' software to put a dollar figure on your claim (e.g. injuries and their codes, treatment, duration of treatment, complaints, impairment, loss of enjoyment, etc.).

More often than not, a doctor will write about injuries in his/her report that he/she doesn't include in the diagnosis. For example a doctor may mention in his/her records that the patient/client has a bruise on his/her chest from the seatbelt. That is an injury. Adjusters don't have time to hunt through every claimant's medical records. If an injury is mentioned at all in the medical records, IT MUST BE DOCUMENTED IN THE DEMAND LETTER. Every injury is a value driver, and value drivers compound... making for a larger settlement! Every injury client should have as many injuries and injury codes as possible in their demand letter. There are several common injuries that should be in almost every demand letter. As mentioned above, ICD-9 922.1 - Chest Wall Contusion. If your client sustained a chest bruise from the seatbelt, it isn't too far of a stretch to suggest that she/he probably also sustained a bruised abdomen. ICD-9 922.2 Abdominal Wall Contusion.

It is in your and your client's best interest to make sure that the adjuster has all value drivers ready and easy to input to maximize settlement dollar amount.

I have read thousands of medical records and have written hundreds of demand letters and I can easily spot injuries and complaints, pull them out of the records, and assign codes to them to maximize your client's recovery. (More money for you and your client!)

3/24/2010

Solos and Small Firms

Helpful Information for Solos and Small Law Firms
SoloSez:
SoloSez is a free list-serve “open” to all solo and small firm lawyers. Some lawyers believe that SoloSez is a great wealth of information. If you don't already belong... you might want to check it out. Below is info:

The ABA operates and maintains SoloSez, but ABA membership is not required to join. It is a tremendous resource for nearly any area in which you might have a question affecting your practice.

If you have any questions about SoloSez, please visit
http://www.abanet.org/soloseznet/index.html.

FAQ available at http://www.abanet.org/soloseznet/about.html