Articles by Jim Sams

Sams is editor of ClaimsJournal.com, the online resource and daily newsletter for property/casualty insurance claims professionals. ClaimsJournal is a member of the Wells Media Group. Sams can be reached at jsams@wellsmedia.com

Insurers Are Curious, Cautious When It Comes to Chatbots for Claims

The insurance industry is slowly recognizing the potential of chatbots to free up resources and improve customer service, even as it recognizes the potential of the technology to sour relationships with customers, according to a report released by research firm …

Bedbugs Join Dogs, Deer, Birds, Cats in Keeping Insurance Claims Folks Up at Night

Dogs remain the undisputed champions at generating insurance claims, while deer, birds and cats are contributing their share of mayhem as well. But according to a review of 470,000 insurance claims over five years by Allianz Global & Specialty, bedbugs …

California Weighs Catastrophic Wildfire Fund as Way to Protect Utilities

Creation of a catastrophic wildfire risk pool is emerging as the most likely option as California lawmakers seek to protect the solvency of investor-owned utilities from record payouts for fire damages. PG&E filed for a bankruptcy reorganization this year, saying …

States Treat Electric Scooters as Bikes Even as Injuries Appear to Rise

Kentucky state Rep. Ken Upchurch says he doubts he will ever see an electric scooter in his rural district on the state’s southern border, but he was happy to help when a lobbyist for Bird Rides Inc. asked him to …

Attorney Turned Criminal Apologizes to Insurers for Giant Workers’ Comp Fraud

Sean Enrique O’Keefe said he started out as a “humanistic attorney,” but he became a mercenary and then a criminal who netted $700,000 a year by sending San Diego workers’ compensation claimants to dirty medical providers. O’Keefe apologized to an …

Truth-Tellers for Claims Adjusters

3-D Images, Surveillance Video Cameras Help Catch Fakes The physician couldn’t tell what was causing the smudge on a CT scan of his wife’s lungs, so he referred her to a pulmonologist. That would likely have meant a two-week delay. …

Before Heading to Prison, Attorney Apologizes for Major Workers’ Comp Fraud

Sean Enrique O’Keefe said he started out as a “humanistic attorney,” but he became a mercenary and then a criminal who netted $700,000 a year by sending San Diego workers’ compensation claimants to dirty medical providers. O’Keefe last Wednesday morning …

Technology Helping Adjusters More Quickly Identify Legitimate Claims

The physician couldn’t tell what was causing the smudge on a CT scan of his wife’s lungs, so he referred her to a pulmonologist. That would likely have meant a two-week delay. Instead of waiting, Corey Chernett, chief executive officer …