AUTOMOBILE INJURIESAUTO INJURIESImmediately after being injured in an automobile accident, you are thrown into an adversarial legal system that is complex and confusing. While you are still receiving initial treatment for your injuries in a hospital emergency room, frequently the party at fault has already notified their insurance company of the accident. The insurance company has a team of adjusters, investigators and attorneys whose sole responsibility is to limit the liability of the insurance company and minimize the amount of money they will be required to give to accident victims. You need the assistance of a qualified automobile accident lawyer to help you through the system and to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation allowable by law for your injury.
There are many mistakes that can be made during the initial stages of a Personal Injury claim that are hard to undo. Let us help you avoid these mistakes.
CLAIMS PROCESS
1. PRELIMINARY FILE PREPARATION AND INVESTIGATION:
We notify all involved parties and insurance companies of our representation on your claim. Our investigators will take care of police reports and other official investigation files. We document the facts of the accident as needed by obtaining the on-scene data, photographs and affidavits to prove the extent of the other party's’ fault and to determine the strength of your case. In some instances we may recommend a lawsuit be filed early to deal with certain issues or circumstances.
2. ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR “NO-FAULT” OR OTHER BENEFITS:
Your insurance company may owe you benefits prior to the settlement of your claim, including, but not limited to, the payment of medical bills or reimbursement of lost wages. After we notify your insurance company of our representation in writing, we follow up with them by fax and telephone to help expedite the payment of benefits. This phase of the process may be brief or it may take considerable time. Some insurance companies are understaffed and slow. We promptly provide your insurance company with accurate information to promote the prompt payment of your benefits.
3. DOCUMENTATION OF DAMAGES:
We contact your doctors and hospitals to obtain copies of their billing records and reports to fully document any medical damages, pain and suffering and loss of income resulting from your injuries. We keep in touch with doctors so we can document the extent of your injuries and your prospects for a full recovery. You will want to reach a point where your injuries are fully understood and treated before trying to settle your claim.
4. FINAL DOCUMENTATION AND SETTLEMENT DEMAND:
When your injuries have healed to a point that the full extent of your damages can be determined, we secure final reports, and billings from every medical provider who treated you. We prepare a demand packet of documentation summarizing your injuries and the facts of the case. When we are ready to begin negotiations, we deliver your demand packet to the insurance company who insures the person at fault. Depending upon the complexity of the accident, your injuries and your damages, it can take several weeks for an insurance company to review and evaluate your claim.
5.SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATION OR LAWSUIT:
Most cases are settled by negotiation, even when a lawsuit is filed against the adverse party. The time needed for settlement negotiations is quite variable. If there are few issues or questions about the fault of the other party, the cause of your injuries or the extent of your damage, a prompt settlement may be made. If there are serious questions about the fault of the other party, the cause of your injuries or the extent of your damage, settlement negotiations can require a great deal of time and patience. If a settlement cannot be reached with the insurance company, we may recommend a lawsuit be filed to resolve the conflict. Lawsuits can be settled without going into a courtroom.
6. DISTRIBUTION AND PAYMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF YOUR CASE:
When you have authorized us to settle your case or a court awards damages, we obtain the funds from the insurance company, retain our fee, pay any outstanding medical bills and remit to you the net settlement obtained in resolving your case. We then conclude the process of your claim. Our handling of your case will assure a professional result with less stress and a greater monetary recovery for the injuries you sustain.
Disclaimer. The information on this website is about Oregon medical malpractice and is not considered to be legal advice, but general information related to issues commonly encountered with medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one have suffered an unjust personal injury please contact our law office for the compensation you deserve. This does not mean that all las suits are accepted, we do reserve the right representation.