Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-30
CORPORATION CLAIM DETECTIVES
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. May 29.-One
OF the most important factors Of mod
ern business administration Is the
handling of claims for damages Every
corporation that has anything to sell.
from canned goods to strcet-cnr trans
rortation. is always in danger OF be-
ing sued by customers who have been
injured By the product
while the majority of claims for
damages from injury in transportation
are well-founded and are equitnbly ad-
tusted. there Is a distinct and disturb
ing minority that is absolutely fraud
ulent With the development Of rapid
transportation and the increasing con-
EcS<ion OF the crowded cities has come
the inevitable accompa niment Of many
accidents, so that gradually there has
grown up new professionalism Of
the claim detective. Each corporation
has claim detective, or a force OF
claim detectives, who investigate the
conditions surrounding every accident
and arrive at their conclusions on
scientific basis.
The claim detective must he we'll
vcrsed in law. possess n good deal OF
knowledge OF medicine. and. above ALL
be shrcwd and discerning psycholo-
gist. The physiognomy OF claim
ant, his manner the way he wears his
hat and what he does with his feet
are closely noted by him. There are
three personalities in every claim case
tina, are of the utmost Importance to
the company-namely, the claimant, or
injured party; the attending physician
and tho lawyer instigating suit. 1t
is the business OF the claim detective
10 determine the character OF these
persons. which sometimes has great
deal to do with the validity OF the
ella i'm.
Careful Reports Made.
When n person Is injured on i street
car, n report is turned in BY the en-
ployees OF the company, containing the
name and address OF the person. the
name and addresses Of witnesses and
complete account Of how the accident
happened. This Is handed TO tho claim
detective. who then begins his investi-
cation, with the idea Of ascertaininE
tho extent OF the injury inflicted. He
examines the cause OF the accident. In
tervicws the witnesses, and finally the
injured person. from whom he takes
Il written statement OF the occurrence
This is done soon as possible. since
il IS n wcll-esta blished fact that time
has an unfortunate effect on tho ac-
curacy OF the principals, who become
more and more impressed with the
seriousness of the injury.
The first thing TO determine Is, or
course, whether the company Is liable
for the accident: that is II II were due
and not TO unforeseen circumstance or
the careIessness of the passenger The
next step is to persuade the claimant
to submit TO a physical examination
for the purpose of ascertaininE II there
are internal injuries. thus determln-
ing the seriousness of tho claim. The
company is entirely at the mercy OF
the doctors verdict, hence the import
ance OF being able TO read his person
allty Some physicians have heen
known TO invent several serious naia-
dies az n result of the accident at a
moments notice, and afterwards col
lect on the discrepancy In the size OF
their bills.
In case Of temporary injury. such
as n broken rib or cash across the lore
head. the adjustment Is usuaity SIM :
ME matter entailing only the payment
of the mans salary while he Is away
from work, his medical expenses, In
Guiding doctor. nurse and medicines. and
a fair bonus for the amount OF phHsi-
cal suffering sustained as result OF
the injury. factory hand, Tor eN-
ample. making $50 week had his arm
injured In street car accident. IIe
was compelled to remain at home Tor
ten weeks, amounting to 5000 in wages;
his medical expenses were STA for
doctor, sac for nursing and 500 FOR metS
cines and miscellaneous expenses. TO-
falling altogether $355. In addition 10
extra for the inconvenience and pam ne
had suffered With man whose earn
ing capacity is 800 week. CORE
| spending compensation Is allotted.
Where Fraud Us Frequent.
IT is In the case of permanent in
| Jury that the claim detective encoun-
tiers the most fraud, so that these cases
are usually dragged out through
! months Of litigation until the claim
! is absolutely proved. 1t is extremely
| difficult for a physician to declare that
| n man has not paralysis of the throat
, when he swears on paper that he has
! and is unable to talk yet it would be
! quite possible for man possessed nl
! great forbearanco to simulate the
| malady. Moreover, If man asserts
that he is paralyzed and incapable OF
walking owing to a bruise on his hip. u
| does not reflect very we'll on the physl-
| cans reputation If he falls to recog-
! nize the existence OF paralysis. Such
was the contention of ono man whose
hin had been hurt in street oar acci-
| dent, and he supported his statement
, hy refusing TO walk for seven years
! All day he sat in an invalid chair OF
! the front porch where employees OF
f, the car company could see him. knit
| ting ties and hose. After seven years
| OF this tedious labor tho car company
| settled the claim for $4,000. which was
| criticized as being an Inadequate ad.
l tuatment A week later. the ceiling o