Have you been injured in an accident in Chicago? How do lawyers insurance claims help? Perhaps a careless driver hit you, or you slipped on an unattended spill at a grocery store. Maybe someone’s dog bit you, or you’re dealing with health problems after receiving negligent medical care. Regardless of the specifics, if someone else is to blame for your injuries, they could owe you money, which you can demand by filing a claim with their insurance provider.
In an ideal world, the insurer would investigate your claim promptly, admit that its policyholder caused your injuries, and pay you adequately for what you’ve suffered. Unfortunately, this isn’t an ideal world. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and they see those profits slip away when they pay accident victims fairly. As such, the insurance company will likely try to deny your claim or get you to accept a lowball settlement offer that pays you pennies on the dollar.
Don’t make the mistake of dealing with the insurance company alone. Instead, you can work with an experienced personal injury lawyer who knows how to maximize the value of your insurance claim.
How Lawyers Assist With Injury Insurance Claims
The personal injury claim process can be a complex one. Fortunately, it is not one you have to go through alone. An experienced personal injury attorney won’t just simplify the process of seeking compensation; they may play a critical role in maximizing injury compensation. Let’s explore how in detail.
Explaining Your Legal Rights
Don’t assume an insurance company is on your side when you file a claim. While the insurance adjuster who contacts you may behave as though they want to help you receive the money you deserve, that’s not necessarily the case. Insurance is a business, one that wants to make as much money as possible. As such, a claims adjuster may not openly explain what types of compensation are available to you. If you work with one directly, you may fail to pursue compensation for a loss you could have accounted for in a settlement.
A lawyer’s role in insurance settlements starts with explaining legal rights. An attorney can review your case and explain the types of compensation you may be eligible to receive. Navigating insurance claims after injury may be easier when a lawyer breaks down the legalese so that you can understand your rights.
Gathering Documentation of Economic Losses
“Loss” is the legal term for harm a victim suffers because of an injury. They come in two general types, the first of which is the economic loss: one that has an exact dollar value. Medical bills and lost wages are common examples of economic losses for which injured parties might seek compensation.
Determining how much compensation you may be eligible to receive involves adding up these losses. You will also likely need to provide documentation supporting them. Examples of such documentation include medical bills, receipts for medical equipment, and pay stubs showing missed income.
Keeping copies of these documents yourself is wise. However, don’t panic if you have not done so. A lawyer can gather any documentation you haven’t already secured copies of. They can then add up all your economic losses to determine an accurate total.
Estimating Future Economic Losses
Your economic losses may also include losses you haven’t technically incurred yet. For example, maybe you sustained nerve damage that will require lifelong treatment as a result. In addition, your injuries could prevent you from working at full capacity.
You can seek compensation for the cost of future medical care and future lost earnings in these circumstances. A professional offering legal assistance for insurance claims can work with medical and accounting experts to determine the likely cost of these future losses so that your claim adequately accounts for them.
Assigning a Value to Non-Economic Losses
Not all losses for which you may deserve compensation have clear dollar values. A non-economic loss is an intangible loss for which a claimant may seek compensation. For instance, you may endure pain and suffering as a result of your injuries. While not as tangible as medical bills, this loss is every bit as real – and every bit as compensable – as any other.
Assigning a value to non-economic losses can be challenging, and insurance companies take advantage of that to lowball injury victims. Don’t let that happen to you. Fight back with the help of a good lawyer who knows how to assign a fair dollar value to what you’ve gone through.
Negotiating for a Fair Settlement
Preparing for the claims process by reading about insurance claim negotiation tips and similar topics is smart. That said, it’s important to understand that handling cases like yours is nothing new for insurance companies. A claims adjuster has much more negotiation settlement experience than you.
Luckily, you don’t have to handle negotiations with the insurance company yourself. An attorney who’s familiar with the tactics insurers use can negotiate on your behalf. A lawyer can also help you evaluate settlement offers. While they will never force you to accept an offer, they can help you better understand whether an offer is fair so that you can come to your own decision.
The goal is to negotiate for an out-of-court settlement. That’s not always possible. If it’s clear an insurer won’t offer a reasonable settlement, a lawyer can represent you in a trial.
Legal Advice for Injury Claims: What Lawyers Can’t Do
Hiring a lawyer may significantly boost your odds of receiving the full amount of compensation for which you’re eligible. Knowing you have proper representation may also offer you peace of mind.
That said, it’s essential to understand that lawyers can’t make any promises about compensation. An attorney can add up your losses and determine approximately how much compensation you may be eligible for. They cannot guarantee the insurance company will offer a fair settlement. Don’t trust an attorney who promises they’ll secure a certain amount of compensation for you.
Contact a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer
At JJ Legal, we’ve cultivated a reputation for providing our clients with quality representation, a reputation our team attorneys earned by fighting hard for every dollar possible. To learn more about how a Chicago personal injury lawyer with our firm can help with your case, contact us online today or call us at 312-200-2000 for a free case review.
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