Articles Posted in Insurance Claims

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If someone else’s negligence causes you to be injured in an accident, such as a traffic accident, a slip and fall accident, or any other kind of dangerous accident, you’ll look to the at-fault party’s insurance provider to compensate you for the losses you experience. While it is good to know that you’re covered, it’s also important to understand that the insurance company is on the insurance company’s side – not yours – and that having an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney can make all the difference when it comes to your ability to obtain just compensation.

The Insurance Company

Like other businesses out there, the insurance company handling your claim is in the business of generating revenue. While it’s true that it’s paid to cover your personal injury claim, you need to keep in mind that it is not on your side and will do what it needs to do to keep your compensation as low as it can get away with. Leaving the insurance company in the able hands of your dedicated personal injury attorney is the best course of action when it comes to protecting your personal injury claim and best interests. 

A woman on the phone in front of a car accidentIn many car accident cases, it’s clear whose fault the wreck was. In instances like these, insurance companies often make settlement offers as soon as they can, hoping to resolve claims quickly and cheaply. If you have received an offer for a car crash before you have had a chance to talk to an attorney, it’s highly advisable that you speak to an Atlanta car accident attorney before you accept it. Read on to learn why.

Initial Offers are Almost Always Low

Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit. They do this by bringing in more than they pay out, so they are financially incentivized to settle your case for as little as possible. The insurance company has nothing to lose by making you a lowball offer in hopes that you will just accept it and move one.

An hourglassThere is no one set timeline for when your personal injury case will settle. It all depends on the individual facts of your case. The more complex the facts, the longer your case could take. The short answer is that a car accident settlement can take between several weeks to several years. Here are some factors that could determine how quickly you could settle your case.

Liability May Be Disputed

The first thing that an insurance company must do before it even begins to talk about settling a case is to determine who was responsible for the accident. Both drivers may say that it was the other driver who was at fault, and the insurance companies must consider the factual record to reach the decision. This may require an extensive investigation by claims adjusters who want to examine physical evidence and speak to the drivers multiple times. While most liability determinations are made within two months, there is nothing that binds an insurance company to that timeline.

The Lyft LogoRidesharing services like Lyft and Uber have changed the way that Atlantans get around the city. Unfortunately, ridesharing drivers get into accidents just like anyone, often causing serious injury to their passengers, other motorists, or anyone else unlucky enough to be in the vicinity.

Ridesharing accidents can be legally complicated, but an Atlanta car accident lawyer at Slappey & Sadd can help ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Here are some of the general principles regarding liability in ridesharing accidents in Georgia. To learn more, call our office today.

Fault Determines Liability

A stethoscopeCar accidents happen on a daily basis in the Atlanta metro area. While vehicle crashes are certainly capable of causing extremely severe injuries that require emergency medical attention, in most car accident cases, victims are able to walk away without a trip to the ER.

This is not to say that people do not sustain serious injuries in these less-than-catastrophic accidents, however. Victims who do not need emergency medical attention may still suffer from injuries such as whiplash, concussions, and serious soft tissue injuries. For this reason, they need to protect their rights by seeking medical attention and calling an Atlanta car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Call Your Physician Today

A black minivan with damage to the rearNo matter how minor your car accident may seem, it can be the beginning of a long and complex legal matter. One of the key factors in getting a fair settlement or court verdict is being able to back up how the accident unfolded and the damages you are claiming. Your Georgia personal injury attorney will have several ways to accomplish this. However, one of the best ones is using the testimony of any witnesses.

Obtain Witness Info Whenever Possible

It should go without saying that your safety and well-being after an accident are paramount to anything else. Always have someone call local law enforcement and an ambulance if needed before worrying about witnesses. When and if you can, you should attempt to obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses, as well as their statement about what they observed. Such information will be valuable as your Georgia personal injury lawyer builds your case. It is worth noting that statements obtained as soon as possible will probably be more accurate than later statements.

A hand holding an small image of a carCar accident victims are usually anxious to get their medical bills paid, fix or replace their vehicle, and move on with their lives. Many insurance adjusters will take advantage of this and make a quick and unfair settlement offer. If the goal of the victim is to get their claim settled merely, it is a win-win for both parties. However, most victims not only want their claim settled quickly, but they also want fair compensation for all of their damages, including pain and suffering.

The insurance company usually doesn’t want the latter, which is why many individuals seeking compensation for their motor vehicle enlist a well-versed Georgia personal injury lawyer to help them. What else doesn’t the insurance company want their claimants to know?

Insurance Adjustors Want to Pay as Little as Possible

A chalkboard with a question mark drawn on itIf another driver’s negligence leaves you injured, you look to the insurance company involved to compensate you for your damages. The trauma and stress associated with car accidents don’t put you in the best position to ascertain whether the settlement offer is fair or not, and the insurance company may be banking on that. If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by someone else, don’t accept the insurance company’s settlement offer until you’ve consulted with an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney.

Your Damages

If a car accident leaves you injured, you may think that your damages amount to your medical expenses – and that that is the end of that. The fact is, however, that the damages you’ve sustained may be far more extensive, including:

An illustration of a man working at a laptop that was a question mark on itIf you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by another motorist’s negligence, you’re under a lot of stress. Not only are you injured but you also have to deal with the other driver’s insurance company, which can be tricky at best. If you’ve been so injured, you’ll likely need to send a demand letter to the insurance company in question, and you are well-advised to allow an experienced personal injury attorney in the Atlanta area to do so on your behalf. Understanding the important components of this letter, however, can help you help your attorney compose your most effective demand letter.

Begin with the 5 W’s You Learned in School

When you write a research paper, you begin by answering the 5 important questions that begin with W, including:

You are required by law to have insurance if you want to register a vehicle in the state of Georgia. You choose a policy and then pay your premiums, believing that coverage will be there when you need it. Unfortunately, many people file a claim and then are shocked to receive a lowball settlement offer or an outright denial of coverage. 

Founded in 1992, the Georgia car accident attorneys at Slappey & Sadd know the games that insurance companies play. More importantly, we know how to navigate the claim process to get you the compensation you deserve. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, don’t let the insurance company deny you the coverage you paid for – call us at 404-255-6677 or send us an email to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.  

The Insurance Company Will Investigate Your Claim

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