For 20 years, I’ve practiced personal injury law in St. Tammany Parish, one of the most conservative parts of Louisiana. Over that time, my clients have consisted of honest, hard-working people who have been seriously injured and just want what’s right and to be treated fairly.
There is nothing wrong with being conservative. But, when it comes to a car accident case, if you have an expectation of being treated fairly and believe that the insurance company will look out for your best interests, you can have your rights exploited, expose yourself to liability, and leave significant money on the table.
It’s Not All Cut And Dry:
What may seem like a straightforward set of facts to you may turn into contested liability for the insurance company. At the scene of the accident, the at-fault person apologized to you for running the red light. But now, their story has changed, and they told their insurance company that they had a green light! How’d that happen?
Does it really matter whether you were at a dead stop or if you were inching forward when you got rear-ended? Why is the insurance company asking so many questions? Shouldn’t this be cut and dry?
The at-fault insurance company’s first job after a wreck is to establish liability, and if there is a way to deny your claim or even place some of the fault with you, they will look for it. Making your claim a lot more complicated will save them money and make the process a lot more frustrating for you.
It Is Not The Insurance Company’s Job To Explain Your Rights And Responsibilities:
A lot of insurance companies now promote their online or mobile claims process. You can submit photos of your car damage from your phone and track the status of your claim. While this may work to get your car damage claim assessed, it does nothing for the other part of your case; your injury claim.
What do you do about the doctor bills that are piling up, or the questionnaires your health insurance company is sending? What about lost time from work? The at-fault insurance adjuster won’t answer those questions for you. What’s worse is that if you don’t know the answers, it can leave you holding the bag with unpaid medical bills and health insurance compliance issues.
How Do You Know The Value Of Your Claim, Or When To Settle?:
You have 2 separate claims after a car wreck: one for your property damage and another for your personal injuries. For your property damage, the average person may feel relatively confident in figuring out if they are being treated fairly with repair costs, car values, and rental fees. However, when it comes to your personal injuries, what is a reasonable amount, and when should I settle it?
Even further, what kinds of things should you include in your injury claim? Are you including things like lost earnings? For doctor bills, do you take the total charge or just what the health insurance company paid?
The at-fault insurance company will give you a settlement offer, but how do you know what is fair and reasonable? If you do not know the value of your injury claim, it will be impossible for you to know if you are being treated fairly.
Once I Settle, Is My Case Closed For Good?:
Once you settle with the insurance company and sign a release, your case is forever closed. If anything pops up after your settlement that you didn’t think of, like ongoing medical issues or an unpaid medical bill, they will be your responsibility. If you later learn that your case was worth more than what you settled it for, it will be too late.
Have You Been Injured In A Car Wreck And Want To Talk To An Experienced Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney?
If you have been injured in a car wreck and think you may have it covered, but still interested in double checking with an experienced personal injury attorney for a FREE consultation contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Madisonville, Goodbee, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.
