Five Tips For Dealing With Insurers When Personal Injuries In Monterey Happen
Car accidents, slips and falls, and sports or recreational accidents are all common causes of personal injuries in Monterey. When they happen due to negligence on the part of others, they can be held liable for costs you incur as a result. In many cases, the insurance policies they have in place can help cover your losses. Our Monterey personal injury lawyer offers the following five tips for dealing with these companies and getting the total amount you are entitled to in a claim.
Protecting Your Rights When Dealing With Insurers
Insurance policies are designed to protect you and others when unexpected events happen. If you are involved in any type of accident resulting in personal injuries in Monterey, policies the at-fault party has in place may help compensate you for medical expenses and other costs.
When dealing with insurers, though, keep in mind they are for-profit businesses. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), they make billions each year. One way they protect profits is by avoiding payouts. To protect your rights when dealing with these companies, follow these six tips:
- Get an accurate estimate of property damages.
When dealing with property damages, make sure to accurately estimate your losses. Insurers will often offer reimbursement for the current value, which is a depreciated amount. However, what you need to be reimbursed for is actual replacement costs, which are considerably higher.
- Get a firm diagnosis from your doctor.
Report any accident immediately to the authorities and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if your symptoms are subtle, you may have suffered serious harm. Prior to settling a claim, get a firm diagnosis from your doctor and get a realistic estimate of treatment and recovery costs.
- Follow recommendations regarding work or other activity restrictions.
To avoid lost wages, many people make the mistake of resuming work or other activities too soon. Unfortunately, this delays recovery and also gives the insurance company cause to dispute your claim.
- Avoid accepting an immediate settlement.
A common tactic among insurers is to offer an immediate settlement when victims are still vulnerable and unsure of the total damages suffered. Be aware that this amount is likely to be considerably less than what you are entitled to. Once you accept, you waive your rights to any future payments or claims.
- Consider your options in filing a personal injury lawsuit in Monterey.
Just because insurance is available, this does not limit your rights in filing a claim. If the insurer fails to offer a reasonable settlement or policy limits fail to cover your costs, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit through the Monterey County Civil Court.
Contact Our Monterey Personal Injury Lawyer
When personal injuries in Monterey happen, you only have one chance to get the compensation you deserve. To get the maximum amount in a settlement, contact the Allen Law Firm and request a consultation with our Monterey personal injury lawyer today.
Sources:
iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-industry-overview
monterey.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil
