After a car wreck, most accident victims have one major thing on their minds — a return to normal. Accidents can disrupt a victim's life in numerous ways and most of them want to be paid for the damages they suffered. Unfortunately, the insurance company for the at-fault driver has ways of making the entire process even worse. Read on to find out about some common things that keep claims from settling.
Fault Is in Question
The first thing insurance adjusters do is to decide on which driver is at-fault for the accident. They do this by reviewing the accident report prepared by the responding law enforcement officer and by doing phone interviews with the parties. When the other driver's insurer alleges that you were at-fault (or partially at fault), you may have a more difficult time getting paid. A personal injury lawyer can conduct their own investigations and produce evidence to support your side.
Difficulties With Communication
Your own insurance company may be easier to work with after an accident than the other driver. Consider things from the other side of the coin. The at-fault driver's insurance company may be subject to losing money if they have to pay out on a claim. They know they have to work with you eventually, but in the meantime, they may fail to return phone calls, deny medical claims, and just be generally difficult to work with. Fortunately, those who get a personal injury lawyer on their case might find things a lot better.
Preexisting Conditions Issues
Another stumbling block when trying to be paid a decent insurance settlement is the suspicion of preexisting conditions. The higher your medical costs because of the accident, the more likely you are to be dealing with this issue. The other side knows that high medical costs are not just costly to the company, but play a part in the victim's pain and suffering damages. If you are asked by the other side for access to your previous medical records, they might be alleging that preexisting conditions caused most of your problems and not the accident. Your attorney will have to produce proof of your medical expenses.
Not Seeking Medical Attention
Failure to mitigate is the name of this issue. You must seek medical care, follow all medical advice, keep all appointments, and follow through with all needed care. If you don't, the other side could allege that you made your injuries worse by not doing so.
For more information, speak to an auto accident lawyer.
Share24 April 2020
If you are injured in an accident, what is your first move? While getting medical care should be your first priority, the fact of the matter is that working with the right lawyer can be incredibly helpful in making it easier to prevent problems. For starters, your lawyer can talk with you about what to do in order to prevent problems with your paperwork, and he or she can chat with you about what to do when you start getting calls from other attorneys talking about the case. On this website, check out great tips and tricks you can use to prevent problems with your recovery from a financial perspective.
