Should I Accept a Settlement Claim from an Insurance Company?

Following a car accident, you are entitled to be compensated for your injuries by your insurance company whether or not you were at fault under Pennsylvania's no-fault insurance laws.¹ If you pay your premiums, you should be able to trust that your own insurance company will have you best interests in mind and will provide adequate compensation for your medical bills and other losses. Unfortunately, the business model of many insurance companies depends upon limiting liability whenever possible and this often means paying injured policyholders less than they deserve.

Know the true value of your insurance claim

Too many auto accident victims submit a claim and then wait for the insurance company to tell them what their claim is worth. However, most major insurance companies now use software to determine a settlement offer, so a real person is not even reviewing your losses. Additionally, this software can often be manipulated to purposely lower settlement offers² for bodily injury whenever possible. For this reason, you should never simply trust the insurance adjuster's assessment of your claim.

For example, many initial offers are solely based on your already-incurred medical expenses and may not take into consideration necessary future treatments. If you unknowingly accept a settlement offer that is too low, you cannot go back and make additional claims for future complications or treatment arising from the same accident. Instead, all past and future treatment costs should be taken into consideration when you are considering a settlement, as well as past and future lost income and other losses.

Accepting a settlement offer is not your only option. Instead, you can negotiate with your insurance for a higher payout or bring a claim against the party who caused your accident. You should always discuss your legal rights and options with a qualified auto accident attorney.

Discuss your case with an experienced Philadelphia auto accident lawyer

Before you accept any type of settlement offer from an insurance company, you should always consult with a qualified Philadelphia car accident lawyer who knows how to determine the true value of your claim. At The Levin Firm, consultations are always free, so there is nothing to lose by calling 215-25-5183 to schedule an appointment to discuss your accident today.

¹http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=75&div=0&chpt=17

²http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-20/business/ct-biz-0120-allstate-exec--20130120_1_injury-claims-claims-job-allstate

What Kinds of Accidents can Result in a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries, or SCIs, are among the most serious kinds of injuries that an individual can sustain. In many instances, SCIs result in long-term medical issues, and could even cause permanent paralysis. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center ^[1] at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, there were approximately 276,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the United States during 2014. These injuries can occur for a number of reasons, some of which could entitle victims to significant compensation. For this reason, anyone who has sustained an SCI should talk to a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Common accidents that can cause SCIs

When people are injured in preventable accidents, they must generally be able to establish that their accident was the result of someone else’s negligence [2] in order to be able to recover compensation. In the context of a Pennsylvania personal injury case, “negligence” refers to a person’s failure to conduct himself or herself with the degree of care that would ordinarily be exercised by a reasonable person. There are many kinds of accidents caused by negligence that could result in an SCI, including the following:

·         Car accidents ·         Truck accidents ·         Motorcycle accidents ·         Bicycle accidents ·         Medical errors

·         Slip and falls ·         Recreational accidents ·         Sports accidents ·         Accidents involving consumer products ·         Pedestrian accidents

Whether or not your accident was the result of negligence is often a complicated issue, so victims should always have their case reviewed by an attorney. In addition, it is important for victims of accidents to make sure that they do not say or do things that may inadvertently admit fault. For this reason, it is important to retain legal counsel before making any statements to any insurance company that may contact you.

Contact a Philadelphia personal injury attorney to discuss your case today

Attorney Gabriel Levin is a skilled personal injury lawyer who aggressively pursues compensation on behalf of his clients. To schedule a free consultation with Mr. Levin today, call our office at 215-825-5183 or send us an email through our online contact form.

¹ https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/Public/Facts%202015%20Aug.pdf

² https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence