Treat Each Claim As Unique; Look At Whole Picture

Stepping back to look at the whole picture when evaluating a claim and treating each case as unique is important for determining the best course of action, said legal experts in a presentation Monday at the Chicagoland Risk Forum at the Marriott Magnificent Mile in Chicago.

Claims are as unique as snowflakes, and depending on the circumstances, when the defendant was made aware of the issue and the potential costs and losses that may be considered in court are important parts of the claim evaluation process, said Jason Pearlman, partner in the Chicago office of law firm Hennessy & Roach P.C.

When an incident occurs, whether it’s a compensable employee injury or a premises liability claim filed by a customer or car accident, the first strategy should be obtaining information, he said, because “ a lot can happen” between the date of the loss and the filing of the complaint.