Insurance Claims
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 31 million people across the United States are injured enough each year to require medical treatment. Of this number, about 2 million require hospitalization. Another 162,000 are fatal. However, only about 409,925 personal injury claims are happening as a result of these accidents. What makes this number so small?
One of the biggest reasons people don’t file is that they don’t need to. If people sustain minor injuries covered by their health insurance, filing a personal injury claim might seem too time-consuming to bother. Other people might feel filing a personal injury claim could ruin someone else’s life. If for example, a person made a simple error that resulted in another’s injury, the injured party might not want to prosecute that person if they aren’t financially stable. Another reason, however, is that the aggrieved party might believe dealing with the insurance company will be a hassle. They might be right, in this case.
Insurance companies make their money by collecting premiums and ensuring they do their best to hold on to the profit they’ve earned so far. They can do this by denying your claim or by using delaying tactics to make you settle for a smaller amount. People who want to get the most out of their claim can improve their chances by taking some of the following steps:
Seeking Medical Treatment for Injuries
Some insurance companies will claim the damage done to you in an accident wasn’t severe because it didn’t require treatment. You may have avoided visiting the doctor because of expenses, but accruing medical bills and diagnoses related to your injury will give you tangible and expert evidence that can be used in negotiations or in court. Your doctor could also write a letter explaining the nature of the injury, how severe it is, and how it might affect your ability to work, potentially lowering the value of future earnings.
Keep Multiple Copies of All Documents
Every piece of documentation regarding your case should be kept on file. This includes medical records, the cost of repairs, receipts, and so on. If an insurance company uses a delaying tactic that includes not receiving a copy of the relevant documentation, you can quickly send them another reproduction. You might also want to communicate with your insurance company via e-mail and snail mail. These communications can be saved on paper as proof if you later have to document your dispute. Phone calls are harder to document.
Hiring a Lawyer
One of the best things you can do to expedite the claims process is hiring an attorney. An experienced personal injury attorney is used to representing people and working with insurance companies. You’re also likely to get an even higher settlement than you usually would working on your own. Once an insurance company knows you have good legal representation, they will probably want to avoid lengthy court procedures and might settle early.
An excellent attorney can also advise you on how to interact with insurance companies. Anything they ask of you could be used against you in settlement discussions or in court. For example, when an insurance company asks you for a recorded statement, they are looking for potential loopholes in your story they can later exploit. You may not be able to refuse to give a statement, but a lawyer can help you organize the information. In some cases, an attorney can make a statement on your behalf.
If you need help starting a claim, or your claim has been denied, give us a call. Our team at The Morgan Law Group specializes in insurance claims and has the up-to-date knowledge of insurance law that can help you quickly assess your case. Our Miami insurance claim attorneys have more than 25 years of combined experience. Let us help you protect your rights and get you compensation. Contact us at (844) 818-0774 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.
