What should an adjuster do when a claimant wants to negotiate a claim directly after firing their attorney?

When a claimant expresses the desire to negotiate a claim directly after terminating their attorney, the appropriate course of action is to request a "drop letter." A drop letter is a formal document indicating that the claimant has ended their relationship with the attorney, which clarifies their right to negotiate on their own behalf.

This step ensures that the adjuster acknowledges the change in representation and prevents potential complications related to the previous attorney's involvement. It also serves as a protective measure to ensure that all parties are informed and that there are no misunderstandings regarding representation.

While other options may seem relevant to various situations, they do not effectively address the legal and procedural context surrounding the termination of the attorney-client relationship. For instance, ignoring the request does not resolve the claimant’s expressed need to negotiate directly. Referring the claimant back to their attorney would be inappropriate since the claimant has indicated a desire to move on. Lastly, requesting additional documentation without proper context of the relationship change may not address the primary concern of the claimant wanting to negotiate directly and could prolong the process unfairly. Therefore, obtaining a drop letter clarifies the status of representation and facilitates proper communication and negotiation moving forward.