Car Accidents
We are lawyers who handle serious injury and wrongful death claims involving Gallagher Bassett. Our attorneys are not handling minor workers’ compensation claims against Gallagher Bassett. We handle claims throughout the country where there has been an extremely serious injury or wrongful death. If you have such a case, our attorneys can help you.
If you are dealing with Gallagher Bassett after a serious accident, you need to understand who you are dealing with. Many people, including lawyers, assume Gallagher Bassett is an insurance company. It is not. Gallagher Bassett is a third-party administrator. That distinction is important because it changes how the claim is handled, who controls the money, and why settlement can be so difficult.
This page explains who Gallagher Bassett is, how it handles claims, why settlement negotiations can be frustrating, what changes after a lawsuit is filed, and what serious injury victims need to know before giving a recorded statement, signing anything, or accepting a settlement offer.
Are you banging your head against the wall dealing with Gallagher Bassett? We have earned tens of millions of dollars for victims by fighting every single case as if it were our last case. Can we help you? Call 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation. Our firm handles only serious injury and wrongful death cases.
Who Is Gallagher Bassett?
Our law firm has handled a number of cases where the claims adjuster was Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. Many people negotiating claims with GB assume they are dealing with an insurance company. Gallagher Bassett is not an insurance company. Gallagher Bassett operates as a third-party administrator, often called a TPA.
A third-party administrator handles the claim process for businesses, public entities, insurance carriers, captives, and self-insured organizations. Gallagher Bassett’s official claims management page says it delivers claims management programs for employers, public entities, insurance carriers, and captives, and handles more than 800,000 new claims annually.
Gallagher Bassett often serves as a “rent an insurance adjuster” for self-insured businesses, schools, hospitals, trucking companies, retailers, restaurants, contractors, and public entities. The company or institution that hired Gallagher Bassett may be the one ultimately paying the claim, while Gallagher Bassett manages the claim, investigates the loss, communicates with the victim or lawyer, sets reserves, and makes recommendations.
This is why Gallagher Bassett claims can feel different from ordinary insurance claims. You may think you are negotiating with the person who controls the money. Often, you are not. The adjuster may have to report to the client, get authority from the client, or operate under strict instructions from a risk manager who has never met you and may not understand the true value of your injuries.
Gallagher Bassett handles automobile accident claims, workers’ compensation cases, premises liability claims, slip and falls, trucking accidents, product liability claims, medical malpractice claims, and other injury cases. In 2019, the company launched GB Specialty to focus on specialized claims, including medical malpractice and high-exposure liability claims.
The purpose of this page is to give you information on this third-party adjuster so you know who you are facing and to give you information that will make it less likely that Gallagher Bassett will be able to underpay you in your insurance claim, serious injury claim, or workers’ compensation claim.
What It Means That Gallagher Bassett Is Not the Insurance Company
The single most important thing to understand is that Gallagher Bassett usually does not insure the loss. It administers the claim. That sounds like a technical distinction. It is not.
An ordinary insurance company typically writes the policy, collects the premium, investigates the claim, defends the claim, and pays the settlement or judgment from insurance funds. A third-party administrator may investigate the claim and negotiate with you, but the client may still control settlement authority.
That client may be a self insured corporation, a hospital system, a school system, a trucking company, a retailer, a public entity, or an insurance carrier that uses Gallagher Bassett for claims handling. The client may have a deductible, a self insured retention, a captive insurance program, or layered excess coverage. You do not need to know all of those details on day one. But your lawyer does.
This structure often explains why Gallagher Bassett claims can move slowly. The adjuster may understand the risk. The defense lawyer may understand the risk. But the client may resist paying full value because it sees the claim as a cost center, not a human being with a life changing injury.
Chart: How a Gallagher Bassett Claim Actually Works
| Player | Role in the Claim | Why It Affects Settlement |
|---|---|---|
| Injury Victim | The person hurt in the accident, malpractice event, fall, truck crash, workplace injury, or wrongful death claim. | The victim must prove liability, causation, damages, and the true value of the loss. |
| Gallagher Bassett Adjuster | Investigates the claim, reviews medical records, sets reserves, communicates with lawyers, and negotiates settlement. | The adjuster may have limited authority and may need client approval to pay full value. |
| GB Client | The company, public entity, hospital, school, carrier, or self insured business that hired Gallagher Bassett. | This is often where settlement resistance comes from because the client may be paying some or all of the loss. |
| Defense Counsel | Defends the lawsuit after suit is filed and reports to Gallagher Bassett, the client, or the insurer. | Once legal fees rise, the client may reevaluate the risk and become more realistic. |
| Plaintiff Lawyer | Builds the evidence, documents damages, identifies coverage, files suit when needed, and pushes the claim toward trial. | Gallagher Bassett is usually more serious when there is real trial risk. |
Background on Gallagher Bassett
Gallagher Bassett has been around since 1962. Gallagher’s own history page explains that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. partnered with Sterling Bassett in 1962 to form Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. to provide services to self insured clients. Gallagher company history.
Gallagher Bassett’s official claims management and third-party administration page states that it assists more than 3,500 clients worldwide through more than 110 branches and more than 4,700 skilled professionals. It describes Gallagher Bassett as a property and casualty third-party administrator offering claims management, risk management, medical cost containment, and consultative services.
They do many of the things traditional insurance companies do. Gallagher Bassett adjusters investigate claims after reports of an accident, set reserves, coordinate with lawyers defending their clients’ claims, review bills and medical records, and work toward settlement.
The main difference between Gallagher Bassett and a typical insurer is that Gallagher Bassett competes for its clients’ business. That gives the company a strong incentive to show clients that it can control claim costs. From the injured person’s side of the table, that often means settlement offers that are lower than the actual value of the claim.
Competition Among Third Party Administrators
Gallagher Bassett is one of the largest third party administrators in the country. Business Insurance’s 2026 claims management ranking listed Sedgwick Claims Management Services first among the largest multiline TPAs by 2025 gross revenue from claims handled for employers, with Gallagher Bassett Services second.
That ranking is useful because it shows the scale of Gallagher Bassett’s claims operation. GB is not a small local adjuster. It is a national claims management company handling complex claims for major businesses, insurers, public entities, and self-insured organizations.
In Maryland, our lawyers see Gallagher Bassett frequently in serious accident claims, premises liability claims, trucking claims, school and public entity claims, and workers’ compensation-related matters. We often see Gallagher Bassett more frequently than Sedgwick in some types of Maryland accident claims.
What Types of Claims Does Gallagher Bassett Handle?
Gallagher Bassett handles many different types of injury claims. The exact claim type depends on the client who hired GB and the insurance or self-insured program behind the claim.
Our lawyers most often see Gallagher Bassett in serious cases involving motor vehicle accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, slip and falls, negligent security, construction accidents, workplace third-party claims, catastrophic injury claims, wrongful death claims, and workers’ compensation matters. GB Specialty also focuses on more complex and high-severity claims, including medical malpractice, transportation, general liability, executive and professional liability, and other specialty liability claims. Gallagher Bassett specialty liability.
The claim type matters because the settlement path varies by case. A premises liability case against a retailer does not move the same way as a trucking case. A workers’ compensation claim is not the same as a third-party personal injury lawsuit. A medical malpractice claim handled by GB Specialty has very different proof problems than a low-impact auto claim.
Dealing With Gallagher Bassett Before a Lawsuit Is Filed
If you are reading this because you tried to deal with Gallagher Bassett on your own but feel like you are banging your head against a wall, you are not alone. Many of our clients tried to handle their own case without a lawyer, only to learn that without a real threat of a lawsuit or a workers compensation hearing, reasoning with Gallagher Bassett can be futile.
There are exceptions. Gallagher Bassett will craft how aggressive its strategy is around the client and the facts of the claim. But, generally speaking, our lawyers find that it is hard to settle a serious accident or workers compensation claim with Gallagher Bassett before litigation pressure is created.
Why? Because GB is trying to score points with its client by paying less for a claim than it is worth. While many Gallagher Bassett adjusters are competent, they often seem to have limited independent authority.
Victims who deal with GB on their own often struggle to get simple things done. They may struggle to get their car in for a repair appointment promptly. They may struggle to reach an adjuster who is always “out until next week.” They may send medical records and hear nothing. They may get low offers that do not come close to covering future care, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Our lawyers have not had the same level of communication problems with Gallagher Bassett that many unrepresented claimants describe. But we have heard those stories from so many clients that they are hard to ignore.
The key for accident attorneys is to find out what Gallagher Bassett’s maximum settlement authority is on the file and then figure out whether that works for the client. More often than not, in a serious injury case, the answer is no and a lawsuit is the only solution.
| Stage | What Gallagher Bassett Often Does | What the Injury Victim Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Early Claim | Investigates liability, collects records, sets reserves, and often, you see a lack of meaningful settlement talks beyond a low-ball offer. | Medical treatment, photos, witness information, wage loss proof, and no careless recorded statement. |
| Demand Package | Evaluates medical records, future care, liability, and settlement authority from the client. | A serious demand that explains liability, damages, future treatment, and trial risk. |
| Pre-Suit Negotiation | Often makes a low or cautious offer, especially if the client is resistant. | A clear decision on whether the offer is real or whether a suit is needed. |
| Lawsuit Filed | Defense costs begin, lawyers get involved, and the client has to reassess risk. | Strong pleadings, discovery, depositions, expert review, and trial preparation. |
| Mediation or Trial Pressure | May finally bring real authority if the evidence is strong and the trial risk is clear. | A lawyer ready to reject a weak number and try the case if needed. |
Dealing With Gallagher Bassett After a Lawsuit Is Filed
GB typically gets more reasonable after a lawsuit is filed or a workers’ compensation hearing is set. Companies using Gallagher Bassett do not always have in-house counsel to defend their cases. So attorneys’ fees become an issue after a lawsuit has been filed.
This reality allows Gallagher Bassett’s client to take the case seriously and evaluate it before it goes to the next level. Again, this is a broad generalization that varies by company and by the advice and evaluation GB is giving on the settlement value of the claim.
In addition to handling pre-litigation claims, Gallagher Bassett may also assist with litigation after a lawsuit has been filed. Their legal management services can assist companies in controlling the costs of litigation by providing bill review, budgeting guidance, defense counsel management, and claims evaluation.
Gallagher Bassett helps its clients evaluate lawsuits and the effectiveness of law firms that provide the defense. This means that even if a settlement was not possible before a lawsuit was filed, it is still be possible, and in fact likely, to get a superior outcome in the future before trial.
The problem with Gallagher Bassett is not always the company itself. Often, the problem is the company that hires them. Companies that outsource claims adjustment often have unrealistic views of the case’s fair settlement value. In those cases, if you are an accident victim or an injured worker who wants full value, you may have no choice but to file a lawsuit or bring a workers’ compensation claim.
Why Gallagher Bassett Claims Can Be Hard to Settle
Gallagher Bassett claims can be difficult because the adjuster’s job is not just to evaluate your injury. The adjuster’s job is to serve the client who hired Gallagher Bassett.
That creates a built-in tension. You are trying to get fair compensation. Gallagher Bassett is trying to resolve the claim in a way that satisfies its client. The client is likely focused on reducing claim costs, protecting its claims history, controlling defense costs, or avoiding precedent for other claims.
This is why your story has to be backed by evidence. Pain alone is rarely enough. You need medical records, diagnostic imaging, treating doctor opinions, wage loss documentation, photographs, witness statements, and a clear explanation of what the injury has done to your life.
In serious cases, the best settlement tool is a well-prepared lawsuit. Gallagher Bassett and its client need to believe that a jury will award more than the settlement demand. Without that risk, there is little reason for them to pay full value.
Should You Give Gallagher Bassett a Recorded Statement?
Please think twice before having any communications with an insurer or third-party claims adjuster. Think three times before putting anything in writing or giving a recorded statement. Consider contacting a lawyer first.
This is especially true in serious injury cases. Recorded statements can be used against you later. Adjusters may ask questions about pain, prior injuries, speed, work history, medical history, gaps in treatment, and what you could or could not do after the crash. Innocent answers can be twisted.
If you are represented by a lawyer, Gallagher Bassett should communicate through your lawyer. If you are not represented, you should at least understand the risk before giving a recorded statement.
What Makes a Gallagher Bassett Claim Valuable?
The same things that make any injury claim valuable also matter in a Gallagher Bassett claim. The case is strongest when liability is clear, the injury is serious, the medical proof is objective, and there is enough insurance, self insured coverage, or corporate money to pay the claim.
The cases that get attention usually involve surgery, fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, permanent impairment, amputation, burns, paralysis, severe scarring, death, or future medical care. But serious damages alone do not win the case. You still need fault, causation, and proof.
Gallagher Bassett will look for every weakness. Prior medical problems. Delayed treatment. Gaps in care. Inconsistent symptoms. Low property damage. Disputed liability. Social media posts. Prior claims. Missing wage documentation. If there is a discount argument, expect them to use it.
Your job, and your lawyer’s job, is to close those gaps before settlement negotiations begin.
Gallagher Bassett and Workers’ Compensation Claims
Gallagher Bassett is also heavily involved in workers’ compensation claims. GB is one of the largest third-party administrators for workers’ compensation claims in the country. The company handles claims for employers that outsource workers’ compensation administration rather than using an in-house claims department.
Our firm does not handle minor workers’ compensation claims against Gallagher Bassett. We handle serious injury and wrongful death claims. Sometimes a workplace injury creates both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party personal injury claim. That is where the real value may be.
For example, if a worker is injured by a negligent truck driver, a defective machine, an unsafe property condition, a subcontractor, or an outside company, workers’ compensation may not be the only remedy. The injured worker may also have a personal injury lawsuit against the third party. That lawsuit can include damages that workers’ compensation does not fully cover, such as pain and suffering.
How to Contact Gallagher Bassett
If you already have a claim with Gallagher Bassett, the most practical starting point is usually your assigned claims professional. Gallagher Bassett’s claimant information page says claimants should reach out to their dedicated Resolution Manager or use the GBGO mygbclaim app or claimant contact form for claim questions. Gallagher Bassett claimant information.
The older Maryland contact information our lawyers have used for Gallagher Bassett is:
Phone: 410-910-7100 or 800-448-0077
Fax: 410-992-9087
Mail:
P.O. Box 2007
Columbia, MD 21045
Before relying on any phone number, fax number, or mailing address, verify it with your assigned Gallagher Bassett representative or the official Gallagher Bassett claimant page. Claims offices, mailing addresses, and handling units can change.
If your claim involves a serious injury, think carefully before contacting Gallagher Bassett directly. Think even more carefully before giving a recorded statement, signing a release, authorizing broad medical record access, or accepting a settlement.
Hiring a Lawyer to Take on Gallagher Bassett
If you have been injured in an accident and Gallagher Bassett is handling the claim, you should understand what you are up against. GB is not a neighborhood adjuster trying to help you figure out a fair number. It is a national claims management company hired to reduce and resolve claims for its clients.
That does not mean every Gallagher Bassett adjuster is unreasonable. Many are professional. Some are practical. But their job is not to maximize your recovery. Their job is to protect the client.
If you have been injured in an accident in Maryland or anywhere in the United States and you are looking to get the best possible outcome for your claim, call us. Our phone number is 800-553-8082. Rather chat online first? Get a free case evaluation online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gallagher Bassett Claims
Is Gallagher Bassett an insurance company?
No. Gallagher Bassett is not an insurance company. It is a third-party administrator that handles claims for self-insured businesses, public entities, insurance carriers, captives, and other organizations.
Why is Gallagher Bassett handling my claim?
Gallagher Bassett is handling your claim because the company, institution, employer, carrier, or self-insured entity involved in your accident hired Gallagher Bassett to administer claims. They are essentially hiring outside insurance adjusters to perform the role that in-house adjusters would have played if they had chosen to take that route. So GB will act as an insurance adjuster would. It will investigate, evaluate, negotiate, and coordinate defense counsel. The client still controls settlement authority, but they can give the adjuster a range within which to settle the case pre-suit.
Is Gallagher Bassett hard to settle with?
In serious injury cases, Gallagher Bassett can be difficult to settle with before a lawsuit is filed. Our experience is that defendants often become more realistic after suit is filed because now the lawyer who actually has to try the case gives more realistic input.
Should I talk to Gallagher Bassett without a lawyer?
If your claim is small, you may choose to handle it yourself. If you have a serious injury, future medical treatment, lost wages, surgery, permanent impairment, or wrongful death claim, you should talk to a lawyer before giving statements, signing releases, or accepting an offer.
Does Gallagher Bassett decide how much my case is worth?
Gallagher Bassett may evaluate the claim and recommend settlement authority, but the client, insurance structure, or self-insured program will control the money. This is one reason GB claims can involve delays and low offers.
What if Gallagher Bassett offered me a low settlement?
A low offer does not always mean the case is worth that amount. It may mean GB does not yet have all the evidence, does not believe the claim, has limited authority, or is, as is often the case, testing whether you will accept less than full value. In serious cases, a lawsuit may be necessary to compel a thorough evaluation by a lawyer.
More Information on Dealing With Gallagher Bassett in Injury Cases
These resources may help you understand personal injury claim value, settlement strategy, and the claims process:
- Valuing Personal Injury Cases for inside information on figuring out how much money a case is worth.
- Handling Your Claim Without a Lawyer.
- Handling Your Property Damage Claim for tips on maximizing the settlement value of auto accident property damage claims.
- Four Sample Demand Letters.
- Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions.
- Maryland Injury Victim Help Center.
Contact Our Gallagher Bassett Claim Lawyers
If you are dealing with Gallagher Bassett after a serious injury or wrongful death, our lawyers may be able to help. We do not handle minor claims. We handle serious injury and death cases where the stakes justify a real fight.
Call 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
Gallagher Bassett and its client are already protecting themselves. You should protect yourself too.