Settling a personal injury claim can be a difficult and time-consuming task, one that you may not be able to undertake on your own. Insurance companies have skilled and experienced lawyers and claims adjusters on their side and so should you. Determining just how much compensation you are entitled to should not be a one-sided decision made by the insurance company. Having a personal injury lawyer on your side is the best way to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
How much is your claim worth?
When filing a personal injury claim, it’s important that you are aware of exactly what damages you are seeking compensation for and how much you are entitled to receive for them. These factors will vary depending on the type of injury you incurred and where the incident happened. Never-the-less, they both should be calculated based on accurate and ethical figures and supported by documentation where possible.
Common factors used by insurance companies to determine the amount of personal injury claims include:
• Bodily harm-The severity of your injury will greatly affect the amount of compensation that you will be offered. The more severe your injury, the more compensation you will typically receive.
• Property damage – If you are involved in a car accident, or incur an injury that results in damage to your property then you should receive compensation based on its value. Don’t accept the insurance company’s quotes as absolute. Get your own estimate via an attorney or independent party.
•Loss of income- If your injury has resulted in you not being able to work or restricted your work hours then you are entitled to being compensated for those wages. Make sure that you keep track of any timesheets or scheduling information that you will need to prove time lost to both your lawyer and the insurance company.
• Medical expenses- Any hospital fees, medications, or other medically related expenses you’ve incurred as a result of your injury should be included in your personal injury claim and be subject to compensation.
Employing the help of a personal injury lawyer will help you determine how much you should be compensated for in each of these areas and if there are any other potential expenses you can claim to ensure you receive a fair payout amount.
How do insurance companies calculate personal injury claims?
Insurance companies rely on the help of adjusters and lawyers to calculate your damages based on a series of “formulas” that take into consideration:
• The severity of your injuries • The extent of damages caused by your injuries • Which party was at fault
Once these factors are calculated they are presented to the insurance company as a base amount to begin negotiations with.
The insurance companies are interested in protecting their bottom line and that means avoiding having to pay what they deem as unnecessary or exorbitant claims. Allow a personal injury lawyer to help you file your personal injury claims today.
This website is here for you if you have experienced an accident in which you should lodge a personal injury claim. Also if you are are a victim of a workplace accident you should immediately lodge a report with your employer. This article was posted by Jeff Hamonds of Personal Injury Claims.
