If you have been involved in an accident and intend to pursue a personal injury claim, you need to act quickly and carefully. First, you need to consult with a reliable Toledo personal injury attorney and start the personal injury claim process early enough. Remember, these types of cases are associated with strict statute of limitations.
When dealing with insurance companies, don’t over trust an insurance agent and expect that the expert will get you the amount of settlement you deserve. However, there are some steps you can take to help support your personal injury claim and enhance the chances of getting a fair settlement amount. Here are the dos and don’ts of dealing with insurers.
Do: connect with your insurer immediately after a crash
The steps you take immediately after you have been involved in an accident play an integral role in determining whether or not you will get fair compensation. Therefore, it is recommended that you contact your insurer as soon as possible. If you intend to pursue a personal injury claim, the law requires you to notify the at-fault party’s insurer too.
Waiting for too long to notify your insurer or file a personal injury lawsuit, your claim may be denied by the stringent statute of limitations in Ohio. According to the law, you have up to two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. That means taking too long to file a claim weakens your case. Besides, witnesses’ memories fade with time and their word might become less reliable and other pieces of evidence may get damaged with time.
Don’t: say ‘yes’ to everything an insurance agent says
In most cases, insurance agents ask victims of accidents to offer a recorded statement regarding the crash and their injuries. Before you do this, talk to your attorney first. Note that a claim adjuster can coerce you into hurting your claim. Sometimes, the adjuster offers you a bare-minimum settlement amount that covers only a small portion of your damages. They do so hoping that you will accept the offer and cease pursuing the true value of your claim.
Do: Gather all important pieces of evidence and keep them safely
Some of the important pieces of evidence in a personal injury case include photographs taken at the accident scene, the accident report created by police, and witness statements. Your medical records and proof of other records showing other expenses related to the injuries you suffered during the accident are also important pieces of evidence.
Don’t: accept any settlement offer unless you are satisfied
Before you file a personal injury claim, first review your insurance policy and determine the amount of coverage you have and the total amount you are likely to be entitled. Though you will be filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer, it is recommended to have medical benefits coverage, collision coverage, and other important insurance policies.
It is also wise to consider other damages beyond the medical-related costs.
