Bodily Injury Claim: 7 Tips to Win Your Car Accident
A bodily injury claim arises when, through the negligence or fault of another, you are injured. Most of the time you will deal with the insurance company of the person who hit you (if they have insurance), but sometimes you will deal with your own insurance company if that person did not have liability coverage. You will file an uninsured bodily injury claim. The process is the same, except that you will need to settle with your own insurance company.
There are many ways to handle and settle a personal injury claim. However, there are certain things you can do to get the most out of the process and settle for what you deserve.
Tip #1: Your bodily injury claim begins when you visit the doctor. If he’s in a car accident and you think he’s injured, it’s prudent to go in and get checked out in the emergency room. If you have personal injury protection on your policy, medical bills will be paid first by your own insurance company. Going to the emergency room will help you show that your injuries deserve immediate medical attention. Go to the ER as soon as you can, even if that’s two or three days after the accident (sometimes that’s when the pain will be most severe).
Tip #2: Report all your symptoms to the emergency room doctor. They will take detailed notes about your symptoms. If you forget or for whatever reason do not disclose this information, it will never be noted on the initial report. You’ll find that insurance adjusters will review those records very closely and try to lower the value of your injury by telling you that you “didn’t report that type of pain or injury the day you went to the ER.”
Tip #3: Be careful with what you say. Doctors like to ask open-ended questions like “how are you?” and “how was your weekend?”. Many patients simply start talking about golfing, boating, and lawn mowing. All these activities will be reported in the clinical history. The insurance adjuster will review them and point out that on such and such a date; You said you went sailing. This implies that you were not injured or that your pain was not bad enough to prevent you from getting out. For more information on how claims adjusters evaluate personal injury claims, visit: http://www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com/making-a-personal-injury-claim.html
Tip #4: Ask the ER doctor for a work permit, even if you don’t think you need one. Most whiplash injuries don’t show up until a day or two later. Going back to see a doctor for a work permit can be a hassle. However, if she asks for it, most doctors will be willing to give it to her on the spot. If you don’t need it, then that’s great. But if she does, she’ll be happy to have one. This also helps you show that the doctors felt his injury might take him away from his workplace. This is strong evidence that your injury was substantial and should increase the value of an award of pain and suffering.
Tip #5: Ask the doctor for a referral. ER doctors will only see you because of an emergency (car accident). They won’t keep treating you. Insurance adjusters are wary of people who simply go directly to a chiropractor or physical therapist. So ask for a referral or go to your primary care doctor and ask for a referral there.
Tip #6: Go to that doctor. It is important that you follow up with your doctor soon after your initial visit. Any delay could make things worse for your back and neck. Be sure to express all of your symptoms, including depression (if present). The adjusters will go through those medical records and find out exactly what it tells the doctor. If you keep your pain quiet, then the adjuster will assume you didn’t have any.
Tip #7: Stick to your treatment schedule. If you start missing dates and don’t do everything in your power to improve, adjusters will lower the value of your claim. Adjusters will justify gaps in treatment as an injury that was not very significant. If you were in pain, you would have gone to the doctor.
Remember, when dealing with insurance companies, documenting your damages and injuries will win your case. For more tips on handling bodily injury claims, visit: http://www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com/bodily-injury-claim.html