Lawyers cooperating with the office represent its clients before ordinary courts. The office also prepares valuations of insurance losses in motor and property claims and commissions medical opinions from doctors and therapists cooperating with the office.
Editorial team: How did the idea of establishing the office come about?
Zbigniew Zawada: After obtaining a broker’s licence, working for several years for insurance companies and learning how insurers operate, I noticed a gap in the entire insurance-claims process. The vast majority of accident victims have no chance when facing professional insurers whose overriding and sole objective is the bottom line. The simplicity of claims handling and the insurer’s fairness are merely apparent. An insurer is supposed to make money, not spend it paying compensation in the correct amount and within the statutory deadline.
What does your work involve?
Above all, providing assistance and all necessary information to accident victims and their families. We help collect the appropriate documents so that claims can be effectively pursued.
Has anything changed over these 20 years?
Definitely, over the last four years. All institutions such as ZUS, UFG, PBUK and insurance companies have calculated that it is more profitable not to pay and to force people into litigation, because out of 10 injured people, only 2 decide to go to court. This policy brings tangible benefits. I write about this regularly on the office’s Facebook profile. Nowadays, to receive the proper amount, it is most often necessary to go to court and wait an average of 12–18 months. That is the reality. I understand those who abandon their claims. However, it should be remembered that this is exactly what insurers are waiting for.
Could you give some examples, for instance from this year?
Of course. An insurer under a carrier’s third-party liability policy brazenly refused, without any grounds, to pay a total of approximately PLN 80,000. It also refused to enter into a settlement before the court. The court awarded the entire amount from the insurer, including all costs and five years’ interest; the total was PLN 150,000 (the proceedings lasted approximately 12 months).
A passenger injured in an accident received PLN 500 from the insurer. After examining the case, the court awarded the injured woman PLN 12,000, reimbursement of litigation costs exceeding PLN 3,500 and approximately PLN 2,000 in interest. Such examples could be multiplied.
What is essential for an insurer to pay what we are entitled to?
Above all, reliable evidence confirming liability and the consequences of the accident. The knowledge and experience of representatives are also essential. And, as in life, plenty of patience and a little luck.
What do you consider your greatest success?
The first is that, despite such intensive activity by the “vultures” I have written about many times, we still exist. The second, smaller but also significant, is that I was recognised as the number-one enemy of insurance companies by Gazeta Wyborcza in August 2016.
What should people wish you?
Lots of patience and a little luck (smiles).
That is what we wish you and your employees.
Biuro Ronin – Zbigniew Zawada
ul. Mickiewicza 12, Bolesławiec
tel. 75 732 19 05, 505 111 231, 502 378 958
e-mail: biuro.ronin@vp.pl