Automobile accidents happen every day. People are injured. Their vehicles are damaged. They need a rental car. Medical bills start piling up. How does this all get sorted out?
We can help answer these questions and others that come up when dealing with the aftermath of being injured in a car crash that is someone else’s fault.
A person injured by the negligence of another driver is entitled to make a claim against the at-fault driver’s automobile insurance company. The injured party can recover money for medical expenses, lost wages, and for the physical pain and mental suffering brought on by the accident.
It is difficult to get fair compensation for these items and many people need a lawyer to help them navigate this confusing process set up by the insurance companies. Many insurance carriers now have teams of adjustors that travel to your home shortly after the accident. Sometimes they arrive the next day! They have authority to settle your case on the spot and will do so if you will accept a small amount. They promise to pay up to a certain amount of medical expenses for one year (often $5000.00) and pay something for your aggravation. This sounds great until you find out that you actually have 3 years to resolve a case like this by settling it or filing a lawsuit. Medical expenses can easily amount to more than $5000.00 before you leave the hospital and will almost assuredly be more than that if you follow up with your doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor.
If you do not accept this scheduled or graduated release of your case early on the insurance companies make the process difficult. The majority of people settle their claims for much less than they are actually worth because they settle before they really know the extent of their injuries.
This is where we can help. We have ten year’s experience handling all types of personal injury claims. Our attorney fees are based on the amount of monies we can collect for you from the insurance companies. If we don’t recover monies for you, you don’t owe us anything. Typically the attorney fee is 33 1/3 % of the amount paid by the negligent driver’s insurance company or, in some cases, your own coverage if the other driver is underinsured.
Our consultations are free and you will sit down with an attorney to discuss your case. Call today to schedule an appointment.
Property Damage
Many people have immediate questions about what to do about their car. The insurance company will send an adjustor out to appraise the damages by a visual inspection. If they deem it undrivable they will authorize a rental car usually with Enterprise Rental as they give the insurance companies the best rates.
If it is drivable, you should take the car to a shop of your choice to have the damages assessed. Some shops have agreements with the insurance companies where the company will accept the shop’s estimate and pay the shop directly. In this instance, the work is usually guaranteed by the shop and the company. You are entitled to a rental car for the time the vehicle is in the shop paid by the insurance company. Many will not reimburse for the collision coverage the rental car company may require if you do not carry collision coverage on your own vehicle.
If the cost to repair the vehicle is more than 75% of the fair market value of the vehicle then it must be totaled by law. Once that decision is made the insurance company owes you the fair market value for the car plus tax, tag and title fees. To get an idea what your vehicle is worth you can visit various websites like NADA.com.
Once the insurance company makes a reasonable offer for your vehicle they will stop paying for the rental car very soon. It is prudent to begin your search for a replacement vehicle very quickly once you see it is a total loss.
We will discuss the myriad of issues that arise in this context at your consultation for your personal injury claim. If we agree to take on your case we will assist you with this part of the claim free of charge. After all, the money you get for your car will need to go into an new car.