The insurance investigation of your personal injury claim is the first step in the claim process. It’s important to get this right because you’ll be dealing with the adjuster on a daily basis until they settle your case or it goes to trial.
What is Insured saying?
The first thing you’ll want to do after reading your notice of loss is to get the insured’s side of things. This can be done by phone or email, but it’s usually best if you meet with them in person.
You need to know what their version of events are and how they feel about the claim being made against them. If they don’t feel like talking about it, then that’s okay; however, don’t assume anything based on what may seem like silence (or even hostility) from one side or another during this initial meeting.
When Official Records Are Requested
The importance of a good request cannot be overstated, as it can make or break your case. Your insurance company wants you, or at least believes they want you, so they will respond favorably if they receive an accurate and comprehensive report from their own staff regarding what occurred during an accident investigation that was conducted by them (i.e., not by their own lawyers).
When you Respond to the Claim Letter
When you receive your letter, it’s important to respond promptly. The claims adjuster may ask you questions about your injuries or symptoms and the extent of their severity. You should be honest and thorough in your response so that there are no surprises later on in the process. You should also be careful not to make any statements that could leave room for doubt about your credibility or qualifications as a victim of an accident.
Investigation on Victim
Once you have your client’s medical records and past claims, it is important to investigate these items. Here are some things to look for:
● Medical history of injury and treatment
● Past claims against defendants or insurance companies
● Income and assets (including savings accounts)
● Lifestyle (travel plans, hobbies)
What is Medical Authorizations?
A medical authorization is a document that allows your doctor to release information about you and your case to the insurance company. It also allows them access to any medical records related to your claim.
Medical authorizations are not required by law, but they’re a good idea because they can save both time and money by avoiding unnecessary delays in getting your claim settled or closed.
Avoid Recorded Statements
If the adjuster asks for it, don’t give one. Personal injury lawyers in Hayward know that it’s illegal and can be used against you later in court if your case goes to trial or mediation. The reason is that if there was some kind of recording device at the accident scene (like a video camera), then the information on that recording would be admissible as evidence at trial by both sides’ attorneys under certain circumstances—and those circumstances aren’t necessarily limited to accidents involving cars hitting each other head-on while traveling down busy roads at high speeds!
Negotiation & Final Case Value
After the adjuster has completed their investigation and sent it to you, they will determine the value of your case. The insurance company is obligated to pay their insured party up to this amount if they lose a personal injury claim.
The adjuster will then negotiate with you over how much money they expect to receive from an award or settlement. You can agree on any terms that make sense for both parties involved; however, if no agreement can be reached by both parties, then an arbitrator will decide what happens next based on those terms (the injured party may or may not have any say in this).
