The Insurance

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Why Insurance

Insurance Claims Attorneys Baltimore, Maryland Twelve Secrets the Insurance Company Won't Share With You If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you will probably get a call from an insurance adjuster. Here are twelve secrets the adjuster won’t tell you.

First Secret
Q: This accident was not my fault, but I am still suffering from some of the injuries. What can I expect from the careless driver’s insurance company?
A: The other driver’s insurance company will probably call you. The insurance adjuster might offer to pay your medical bills and lost wages to get a quick settlement. But don’t be fooled; by law you may also be entitled to money for your pain and suffering, and changes in your lifestyle. At Cohen & Dwin, we can help you decide how much they should pay.

Second Secret
Q: Everybody keeps talking about PIP and no fault. Just what is that?
A: PIP stands for Personal Injury Protection. Sometimes the adjuster will use the words “no fault.” That is the same thing as PIP. Virtually every Maryland car insurance policy includes PIP coverage. To get benefits from PIP, you should call an adjuster from your own insurance company (or the insurance covering the car you were in). If you were a pedestrian, call the insurance company for the car that hit you.

In Maryland, PIP is an optional coverage which requires an affirmative waiver from the named insured. This waiver covers all resident relatives 16 years of age and older. If a waiver is in effect for you, you cannot recover these benefits even if the owner of the car in which you were riding has not waived coverage.

PIP benefits should be paid no matter who was at fault in causing the accident. PIP insurance usually pays for 4 things: medical expenses, wage loss, household expenses, and death benefit.

Even though in Maryland the PIP is not to be considered by the careless drivers insurance company in resolving the matter, many times to the un-experienced person they start off with saying that since you got paid this money they are deducting it from any offer of settlement. Sound complicated? It is. Be safe. Call Cohen & Dwin at 410-LAW HELP.

Third Secret
Q: The accident caused some pretty bad injuries. I’m not sure what the future holds, but the insurance adjuster wants me to sign a settlement now. What should I do?
A: It’s almost always a big mistake to settle too soon. All medical bills past and future are needed to properly evaluate the claim.
. Before we settle cases, we contact your doctors to get estimates of future medical expenses and possible future changes to your lifestyle. On the other hand, if you wait too long, your claim might be banned by certain time restrictions. Be safe. Call us.

Fourth Secret
Q: I am all confused. The insurance adjuster is talking about all different types of insurance: underinsured coverage, uninsured coverage, and liability insurance. What do I do?
A: That’s where Cohen & Dwin comes in. There are many types of insurance. Depending on the circumstances, you might be entitled to benefits from more than one policy. But be careful. The insurance adjuster who calls you probably represents only the liability insurance for the other driver. If you sign the release he gives you, you might lose your rights to get benefits from other types of insurance.

Fifth Secret
Q: The insurance adjuster says the accident was partly my fault, so he wants to make a lower settlement. Can he do that?
A: Maryland is a contributory negligence state. If you are in any way at fault in the accident, recovery is completely barred. However, an attorney can often get a settlement since the the issue of contributary negligence is so harsh and everyone tends to want to avoid a courtroom jury making these findings.

Sixth Secret
Q: I was a passenger injured in an accident caused by a friend. Can I still recover without causing my friend financial hardship?
A: There are things you can do to make sure your friend suffers no financial hardship. That is why you need a lawyer. Even if your accident was caused by a friend or family member, you can usually be fully compensated. A Cohen & Dwin attorney structure your settlement with the insurance company so that your friend or family member has no out of the pocket costs, even though they caused the accident. Note that your friend's insurance premium may be subject to an increase.

Seventh Secret
Q: In the past, my family has used a general practice attorney for wills and family law issues. Is it really necessary to retain an attorney who only practices in accident/injury law?
A: At Cohen & Dwin, we work daily with numerous insurance companies and keep current with the specialized laws and regulations affecting accident cases. We have a substantial amount of experience and we have attorneys that only handle cases like yours. We also treat clients like people – not just another case file.

Eighth Secret
Q: My medical bills are mounting and my good credit is being jeopardized. What can I do to stop possible lawsuits and judgments?
A: Cohen and Dwin can often negotiate with your medical providers to delay collection actions until you get a settlement. Sometimes we can even help find other available medical insurance that you did not know about.

Ninth Secret
Q: I thought about negotiating my claim on my own. How do I know if the insurance adjuster’s offer is fair and reasonable?
A: You don’t. The fair settlement value of your case depends on many facts and issues. Remember, the adjuster works for the insurance company – not for you. His job is to get the lowest possible settlement. Our attorneys are knowledgeable, experienced, and work only for you. Our job is to get the highest possible settlement for you.

Tenth Secret
Q: Why does the insurance adjuster recommend that I not hire an attorney?
A: Probably because insurance settlements handled without an attorney are usually cheaper for the insurance company. Some people make settling their claim a “do it yourself” project to save money. Oftentimes, an attorney can point out rights and remedies you are entitled to which the insurance company is not obligated to tell you about. Injury law is probably not something you are well acquainted with. The insurance companies certainly know that. Let the professionals at Cohen & Dwin help you through this process.

Eleventh Secret
Q: Should I hire a lawyer now or wait for the insurance company to make me a first offer?
A: You certainly have every right to wait for the insurance company’s offer before calling an attorney. However, in the meantime, the insurance company will want to take recorded statements from you and other persons involved in the accident. You will not have appropriate representation to safeguard your interests in this phase of the case. The insurance company may also attempt to make use of medical release forms, which they are not entitled to use. Information a lawyer might use to benefit your case may become unavailable or lost by the time you seek legal counsel. The insurance company is working on the case within days of the accident occurring. You should also have appropriate representation as soon as possible so that your interests are safeguarded.

Twelfth Secret
Q: If I hire an attorney, does that mean my case will end up in trial?
A: No. Most cases are settled without a trial. In fact, less than 5% of such cases actually end up in trial. But if the insurance company knows that you and your lawyer are ready for a trial, they will often pay you more money in settlements. Sometimes we also get cases resolved by arbitration or mediation – both of which are much faster and less stressful than a trial.