Auto Collisions
If you have been injured in an auto accident, you are not alone. National statistics shows that there are twelve million collisions a year.
Please take this quick quiz before you call the other driver’s insurance company - I think you will be surprised by some of the answers. I am experienced in personal injury law and practice only in this area. Don’t let the insurance adjuster take advantage of you because you don’t know as much as they do - call me first for a free consultation.
QUESTION: The insurance company for the other driver wants to help me.
Answer: No. The other driver’s insurance company wants to save money for their company, not to help you. In fact, in Indiana, the other person’s company does not even have a legal duty to treat you in good faith.
QUESTION: It is easy to handle an insurance claim myself?
Answer: No. The first red flag should occur when the other person’s company asks to take your statement.
Why do they need your statement when their insured caused the collision? Why don’t they just accept responsibility and ask you how can they help you?
The answer is that the claims adjuster hopes they can find a way to assign some fault
to you, or obtain other information regarding your medical history etc., which will help them reduce the value of your settlement. See statements.
Remember, the insurance adjuster is trained and experienced in taking statements, and knows specifically what detailed questions to ask to help reduce your claim. You do not have experience in this area.
QUESTION: The insurance company for the other driver will pay all my medical bills as they are billed.
Answer: No. The insurance company for the other driver will not pay for any of your medical bills until you have signed a full and final release for a personal injury settlement. In the meantime, you need to have a plan for paying for your medical treatment. I am experienced in dealing with health insurers, auto insurers, Medicare, Medicaid, and medical providers to maximize the amount of the settlement you receive yourself after they are paid. There are many different situations which need to be addressed. Let me help you with your medical bills.
QUESTION: It is easy to determine who was at fault in a crash. The police report says that the other driver was at fault and the other person’s insurance company will automatically help me when I call them.
Answer: No. Indiana is a comparative fault
state and the other person’s insurer will try to save money and find a way to apportion fault to you. For more information, see Fault
and Taped Statements.
As a simple example, even if you are rear-ended, the other person’s insurer can try to assign fault to you by claiming you stopped too suddenly, did not have brake lights, etc.
QUESTION: The value of my personal injury settlement is based on a cut-and-
dried formula, such as three times my medical bills.
Answer: No. If it was that easy, there wouldn’t be any claims adjusters or personal injury attorneys. The value of your personal injury claim is based on many factors. You are entitled to compensation for your actual costs, including medical bills and lost earnings. However, the value for pain and suffering can vary greatly from case to case and is based in part on how seriously you are injured, what kind of medical treatment you have, and whether or not you have any permanent impairment. And, there may be other damages you are legally entitled to, depending on your situation.
The claims adjuster’s job is to pay you the lowest amount possible. As your attorney, I pledge to aggressively represent you to maximize your settlement.
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