When you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else, you are entitled to seek compensation for your damages. However, insurance companies are in business to make a profit, and they do that by paying out as little as possible for claims.
One way insurance companies limit payouts is by challenging the severity of a claimant’s injuries. An adjuster will attempt to find something they can use to prove that your injuries are not as severe as you allege, so they can settle your claim for much less than it is worth.
You need an experienced Baton Rouge accident lawyer who knows how to combat the insurance companies’ tactics and hold them responsible for paying the full value of your damages.
Document Your Injuries Thoroughly
To help prove the actual value of your damages, you must thoroughly document your injuries.
Some ways to help prove the severity of your injuries include:
- Seek immediate medical attention after your car accident, even if you do not think your injuries are severe. Some life-threatening injuries are not immediately apparent. Delaying treatment can be used by insurers to argue that your injuries were not as severe as you allege or that they are not related to the accident.
- Follow up with all medical appointments and ensure that every doctor visit, therapy appointment, test, and procedure is documented.
- Take photographs of your injuries from multiple angles immediately after your accident and throughout your recovery. Ensure the photos show all bruises, swelling, cuts, and scarring at all stages of healing.
- Be sure your healthcare providers carefully document your symptoms, diagnoses, treatment plan, and prognosis in your medical records.
- Keep a journal and document your daily pain levels, symptoms, and how your injuries are impacting your daily life.
- Stay off social media while your claim is pending. Insurance company adjusters often analyze social media accounts to find evidence to help them deny or devalue your claim. They look for anything that can be used to show that your injuries are not as severe as you allege. You should even ask your family and friends to refrain from posting photos or comments about you while your claim is pending.
Protect Your Medical Information
You should not discuss your injuries or medical treatment with insurance adjusters without legal representation. They often ask seemingly innocent questions about whether you’re feeling better or how you are feeling today, hoping you will say something they could use to argue that your injuries have been resolved or are not that severe.
Insurance companies often ask you to sign a release for them to access your medical records. Do not sign a release without consulting your Baton Rouge car accident attorney.
While the insurance company does need to evaluate the portions of your medical record that are relevant to your accident, they do not need access to your entire medical record. They will attempt to find some previous medical issue that they can argue is the actual cause of your current medical condition.
Once you have retained an accident attorney, allow them to handle the terms of any release and review your medical records before submitting them to the insurance company. Reviewing your records will help you catch any errors or inconsistencies and ask your medical provider to correct them when appropriate.
Consider Legal Help
Insurance companies have teams of investigators, adjusters, and attorneys working to minimize your claim payout. If the insurance company does not negotiate with you to reach a fair settlement or denies your claim, you should immediately consult an experienced Baton Rouge car accident lawyer.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our car accident attorneys in Baton Rouge will help establish and accurately value your current and future economic and non-economic damages so you know what a fair settlement of your claim would be. We know the tactics insurance companies use and how to hold them accountable for paying the full value of your claim.
Gather Additional Evidence
In addition to your medical documents, you should gather all available evidence to support your claim. You should obtain the accident report as soon as possible, since it is an official record that may include the officer’s opinion about fault. Witness statements can corroborate your account of the accident and the injuries you sustained.
Collect contact information from anyone who witnessed the accident or who can testify about how your injuries have affected your life. Coworkers, family, and friends can provide statements about what they have observed.
Gather all photographs and video footage of the accident scene, including those showing damage to the vehicles and any visible injuries at the scene. You should also gather your employment records, including pay stubs, tax returns, and employer statements, that evidence lost wages and reduced earning capacity.
Understand Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies use numerous unfair tactics to help them avoid liability when possible and to minimize the amount they must pay you. Some of those tactics include:
- Shifting blame to you by arguing that you were at fault in the accident
- Arguing that your injuries are not as severe as you claim
- Argue that a pre-existing condition is the reason for your current injuries and symptoms
- Denying your claim outright or delaying the processing of your claim
You need an experienced accident lawyer in Baton Rouge who knows all the tactics insurance companies use and how to defend against them. At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our Baton Rouge car accident attorneys anticipate these tactics and know how to combat them. We don’t need insurance companies to play fair for us to hold them accountable and help you secure maximum compensation.
Contact a Baton Rouge Car Accident Lawyer at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys Today
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another party, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. However, insurance companies will challenge the severity of your injuries to minimize the amount of compensation they must pay you.
You need an experienced car accident attorney to protect your rights, build your strongest case, establish and accurately value all your damages, and help you secure the full compensation you deserve.
Our Baton Rouge car accident lawyers at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys have a proven record of securing maximum compensation for our clients, and we are committed to doing the same for you. Call (225) 999-1111 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation with an accident attorney in Baton Rouge today.