How does a personal injury claim work?
25% CONTINGENCY FEES IN ALL CASES
Our fees are reduced from the customary 33-40% charged by most personal injury attorneys.
NO RECOVERY – NO FEES OR COSTS
We advance all costs to prosecute your claim. You owe us nothing if we don’t get recovery for you.
FREE NON-OBLIGATION CONSULTATIONS
Call us to see if you have a claim or if you need a second opinion on an existing claim.
Step 1 – File a Claim
Although there are several types of personal injury cases, they all share some common stages throughout the claim process. The first step following any accident is to file claims with all appropriate insurance companies. See Types and Sources of Insurance Coverage.
Step 2 – Claim Investigation
After filing a claim with an insurance company, a representative from the insurance company (claims adjuster) will contact all parties to gets more information about the accident, property damage and injuries to make a liability determination. If the adjuster accepts liability in a case, the claim will proceed to determination of damages. See Can I make a personal injury claim if I’m partially at fault?
Step 3 – Property Damage Claim
If a property damage claim is made against the property damage coverage of the at-fault driver, the insurance company will resolve the property damage claim once liability is confirmed. The insurance company will refer the claimant to one of their preferred body shop for an estimate of repairs and will provide a rental vehicle during the time of repairs. If the vehicle is found to be total loss, the insurance company will make a property damage settlement offer based on the market value of the vehicle. The claim will also be provided with a rental vehicle during this process.
Step 4 – Demand Settlement Package
Once the injured person completes his or her medical treatment, or in cases with limited insurance coverage, once there is adequate documentation of injuries, the next step in any persona injury case is a demand for settlement.
The demand letter is usually sent by an injured person (usually through a personal injury attorney) to the insurance company of the person responsible for the accident. The demand letter outlines all information necessary for the adjuster to assess the settlement value of the personal injury claim, such as liability, the claimant’s injuries, medical treatment and prognosis, out-of-pocket medical expenses, wage loss, etc. The letter also makes a specific dollar amount demand to resolve the claim.
Step 5 – Settlement Negotiations
After the demand has been made, the insurance adjuster may accept the demand, make a settlement offer, request additional information, or may deny the claim. Unless the adjuster denies the claim, the demand letter typically triggers a back-and-forth negotiation process between the injured party (usually through a personal injury attorney) and the adjuster. If the parties are unable to reach a settlement agreement following a series of negotiations, a lawsuit may need to be filed to resolve the dispute. See Personal Injury Lawsuit.
How can we help?
At Anna Handy Law Firm, P.A. we can handle personal injury claims from start to finish. We set up claims with all applicable insurance companies, assist you in resolving your property damage claim, investigate the accident, resolve issues of liability and insurance coverage, ensure that your medical bills are being submitted to insurance companies for payment, guide you in every step of the process and treatment to ensure you obtain maximum medical and financial recovery. Please give us a call for a free non-obligation consultation. (386) 248-3000.