How a Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help With Your Insurance Claim?
The weeks following after suffering a personal injury can feel incredibly hectic. While you wrap your mind around what happened, you simultaneously face medical care and bills, lost wages, and potentially filing a lawsuit. On top of that, you need to work with your insurance, which can mean learning technicalities and running up against red tape. Filing an insurance claim after being a victim of a personal injury is essential to cover some of the expenses you may have related to your injury, but you might not know how. Most people know they need insurance, but when the time comes to use it, they aren’t sure of who to call and what information to provide. This is where an experienced personal injury attorney can help. A Texas personal injury attorney can explain the necessities of making a claim, the best way to go about it, and your rights within the situation.
The Basics of A Personal Injury Insurance Claim
To begin, an insurance claim is when you make a formal request to your insurance company for it to pay you based on your policy, which may include payment for injuries, lost wages, and your property damage, if any. The insurance company reviews your request and denies it or offers you a payment. It’s best to contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. If you wait too long, this can be a reason for them to deny your claim. However, give yourself some time to adapt to what happened before you make the call, as you’ll need to give an insurance adjuster a statement and it’s best to do that when you’re calm and you’ve spoken to an attorney. Even if you call the insurance company immediately following the accident, you have the right to schedule a statement for a later time.
Most payment systems at insurance companies are structured, meaning there will be specific reasons behind the compensation you’re offered. Some factors that can affect your recovery are the type of insurance you carry, the type of accident, who was at fault, your specific injuries, medical costs, and your property value. However, there can be room for negotiation, which is why working with a lawyer is to your advantage.
Whenever you speak with your insurance adjuster or someone else at the company, you should take detailed notes. Get the name of whomever you speak with and write down the information they provide and steps they tell you to take next. This gives you a personal record of your relationship with the company but also helps you understand the claims process.
Review Your Insurance Policy with a Personal Injury Attorney
What you can ask your insurance company for depends on the type of policy you purchased. Broadly speaking, you can carry liability, vehicle, and medical coverage. Liability coverage covers the costs of accidents you cause. Vehicle coverage pays for the cost of repairing or replacing your car. Medical coverage generally pays for your personal injuries and medical payments.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s best to carefully review your policy to give yourself a good idea of the claim you can make and the payout you can expect. Many people purchase an insurance policy and then never think too hard about it again. Additionally, even if you review it, you may not be sure what each of the provisions really means. A Texas personal injury lawyer can help you understand your policy and apply it to your current situation.
How Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
When you make a claim following your injury, obviously you want to do so in a way that creates the greatest chance of approval and the largest payout available. Having a knowledgeable lawyer by your side can be critical in obtaining compensation as he or she can ensure you offer the insurance company the right information and avoid common missteps.
A lawyer will organize paperwork regarding the accident, like the police report. It’s important to offer the evidence that best proves the other party’s fault, which may be necessary under your policy and state law for you to be compensated by insurance. He or she will also help you gather and organize the necessary medical records and bills. If you’re missing records, your attorney can contact medical providers to get them. You want to provide everything the insurance company needs, but you don’t want to blindly send them everything. If necessary, your attorney will contact witnesses who may need to tell a court or the insurance company what they saw.
Experienced Texas Personal Injury Lawyer
A knowledgeable Texas Personal injury lawyer will not only guide you in the right direction in the claim’s process but will help you avoid errors that could cost you the compensation you need to get back on your feet. Common mistakes people make are:
- Admitting to fault following the accident
- Not following the recommended medical treatments
- Not understanding their legal rights in regard to their insurance coverage
- Signing a medical authorization allowing the insurance company access to all records
- Accepting an insurance company’s initial offer without thoroughly reviewing it
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