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FOR THE GENERAL CONSUMER
Here
is some free information for you, the general consumer.
For more comprehensive information including a way to
calculate EXACTLY what the value of your claim is worth,
please purchase "Auto Accident Personal Injury
Insurance Claim (How To Evaluate and Settle Your Loss)"
available for sale by download within this site.
A
WORD ABOUT LAWYERS
You
don't have to go to law school to handle most accident
and personal injury claims. If you engage an
attorney to represent you he or she is going to reach
in and scoop 33 1/3% to 50% right off the top of the settlement
(where the cream floats!) - - for doing little or nothing
- - when you could have done it yourself.
A WORD ABOUT ADJUSTERS
Insurance
adjusters are employees of the insurance companies.
They do as they are told. Insurance companies, by
their very nature, are structured to pay the least amount
of money on a claim they can get away with.
How
do my medical expenses impact the value of a personal
injury claim?
The
higher the medical bills the greater the value of your
claim. Be sure to obtain all bills for services
rendered plus final reports regarding your physical
condition. Make sure these Medical Reports include
the length of the time of your "Partial Disability"
and/or your "Total Disability". Why?
Because that will go a long way in justifying both your
"pain and suffering" and your lost wages.
These reports should be in your possession and read
by you first (not sent directly to the insurance company).
Keep the original and send a copy to the adjuster.
Question 2
What
about my lost time from work?
You
must be paid for every single dollar you lost even if
you're reimbursed by some other insurance coverage you
may have! Lost time and earnings is really "Lost
Earning Capacity". You are entitled to compensation
for lost time and earnings -- even if you have no actual
loss of money -- such as, for example, when your salary
is paid by your personal insurance or by taking sick
leave or some similar arrangement.
Question 3
How
do I go about the proper property damage estimate
on my vehicle?
In
the vast majority of motor vehicle accidents there is
an "Agreed Cost To Repair" which has been
arrived at between your damage repair person and
the insurance adjuster. There are other property
losses that may have occurred such as damage to clothing,
jewelry, watches, etc. (These are covered so be
sure to have written proof of the cost of each item
plus the date it was purchased).
I
have Medical Payments Coverage. How does that
work?
This
type of converge will pay you, up to certain limits,
for all medical bills rising out of the accident - -
regardless of who is at fault! (Read this coverage
carefully because so many people are covered in so many
different ways).
A WORD ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS: In certain
instances it may be possible to have your medical bills
paid, and yet avoid any repayment, by using your non-automobile
health insurance policy, or some other health plan you
have. ("Yes" this means you may be able
to collect twice for the same medical bills).
Question
5
What
about the threat of obtaining a lawyer?
 This
is a wake up call to the adjuster for three big reasons:
(a) The cost to his company immediately skyrockets the
minute lawyers are brought into the picture; (b) Adjusters
often feel it is a black mark on their record to have
a case taken from them and put into litigation; (c)
Their insured (the person who caused your damages and
injury) won't be happy to be involved in a lawsuit.
PLEASE
NOTE: If you do hire an attorney, it is reasonable
to ask him to waive any percentages subtracted from
the amount of money you have already negotiated, up
to that point.
How
do you negotiate a fair settlement for yourself?
 Always
show the insurance adjuster that you are willing to
negotiate in "good faith". The first
rule of bargaining is to never lower your demand until
the adjuster makes a counter-offer. Negotiating
a settlement for personal injury is much like any other
negotiation. You are the "seller" and
the adjuster is the "buyer".
BE
PATIENT: A claim settled in haste is rarely paid
its fair and full value.
What
is the single greatest thing I can do to increase the
value of my claim?
Contains
the exclusive BASE Formula that places a specific
value on personal injury including "pain and suffering"
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