Why do insurance rates keep going up, and what really happens when an insurance company decides what your claim is worth?
In this episode of Chats with Chip, Jonathan Forstall sits down with veteran New Orleans attorney Chip Forstall, who draws on roughly 45 years of experience dealing with insurance companies to explain how the claims process has changed, and why he believes those changes matter to everyday policyholders.
Chip takes us back to a time when local insurance adjusters had real authority to evaluate and negotiate claims. Attorneys and adjusters knew one another, understood the local courts and could often resolve straightforward cases without ever filing a lawsuit. Today, Chip says, that process looks very different.
Jonathan and Chip break down how insurance claims are evaluated, why more cases end up in litigation, and the role computer-driven systems have played in changing negotiations.
They also dig into some of the biggest questions facing Louisiana drivers:
- Why do some insurance claims get denied or closed without payment?
- How much authority does an insurance adjuster actually have?
- Why do attorneys have to file lawsuits on cases that once may have settled?
- Are personal injury claims really the main reason insurance premiums are rising?
- How have more expensive, technologically advanced vehicles affected the cost of insurance?
Chip also explains an often-overlooked part of the equation: cars themselves have become dramatically more expensive to repair. Modern vehicles contain airbags, sensors, cameras, computers and other technology that can turn what once looked like a relatively minor accident into a costly repair.
And while Chip has plenty to say about the insurance industry, he also explains why relationships, reputation and knowing the person sitting across the negotiating table still matter after decades of practicing law.
Before getting into the legal conversation, Jonathan and Chip catch up on family life, back-to-school season and a major Forstall family milestone as Chip prepares to take his 18-year-old daughter to Auburn University.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the scenes after an accident, or how attorneys negotiate with insurance companies, this episode offers a perspective built from decades of firsthand experience.
