What can I expect during my Personal Injury Case?

If you have been injured in an accident, you have had to deal with multiple medical appointments, time missed from work, and a good deal of pain. You are also stressed out emotionally because all of those medical appointments are going to have to be paid for somehow. It may be helpful to know the process of filing a personal injury claim.

New Jersey is a no-fault state. which means that when you have a car accident, your own insurance company will pay for the bills no matter who is at fault. If your medical bills exceed your amount of coverage or if you have especially debilitating injuries, you may be able to sue.

In order for your case to go smoothly, it is helpful to know the necessary steps to take after you have had an accident.

What to Do at the Scene

When you have an accident, you should pull over to the side of the road, call the police, and wait for them to arrive. You should exchange information with the other driver and get the names of any witnesses. When the officer arrives, be sure to request a copy of the accident report.

Seeking Medical Attention

You should go to the doctor as soon as possible after you have been injured. Be sure to save a copy of every doctor bill that you have. You should save the bills from physical therapy and massage therapy as well. You should save the receipts for any medications that you have taken whether they are prescription or non-prescription. If you have had to use a cleaning service because of your injuries, you will want to save the bills from that as well.

Contacting the Insurance Company

You should contact your insurance company as soon as possible. When you contact them. They may ask you if they can record the conversation, but you are under no obligation to let them. They will ask you many questions about the accident, but you should only tell them what you remember.

The insurance company must acknowledge your claim within 10 days of the initial contact. They will have 30 days to investigate the claim and accept or deny it. If they accept the claim, they will make you a settlement offer. Generally, the offer will be less money than your accident is actually worth.

What a Personal Injury Attorney can do for You

If an insurance company tries to lowball you, you should not accept their offer. Insurance companies are staffed with teams of lawyers whose job it is to keep your money in house. You will need your own lawyer in Livingston  to get the money you deserve.

An attorney will negotiate with an insurance adjuster to get you a good settlement. If they are unable to agree on a settlement. Your attorney can help you file a lawsuit.

Filing a Lawsuit

Your attorney will write a letter to the insurance company demanding the money that you think is fair to settle your claim. The insurance company in your attorney will then try to negotiate a settlement. If they cannot reach an agreement, you will file a lawsuit.

You and your attorney will try negotiating with the insurance company again before actually going to court.

An accident can interrupt your life and wreak havoc with your financial situation. Knowing the process for filing an insurance claim can help you get the money you need to get on with your life.

Authoritative Sources:

https://www.carinsurance.com/no-fault-states.aspx