What to Expect In the Personal Injury Claim Process

A car crash can be the beginning of a long and arduous process, especially if you are not prepared for it. When another driver's negligence causes an accident, the damage to your car and your health may prove costly. The personal injury claim process is never something anyone is fully ready to go through. However, having some basic idea of how the process works beforehand may help you get through it with less frustration and stress with the help of personal injury doctors Houston.

The Personal Injury Claim Process in Houston

Depending on the specifics of the crash, you may be able to leave the scene of your own accord. While this is one positive in a negative situation, it may not be your best course of action. You should get checked out by a medical provider, even though you may not believe you are hurt. There are a few reasons why this is important. First and foremost, some injuries do not appear evident. You may not have marked on your body or even experience pain.

While you leave the scene assuming you are lucky, you may wake up a few days later regretting the decision. A medical examination after a crash will serve to not only diagnose common injuries but track their progression. This is something that the insurance company will want to know. A few weeks later, if you walk away and wind up in the hospital with a brain bleed, the insurance company may try and say it happened after the crash, not because of it.

Claims Adjuster

A phone call to your insurer to report your accident will introduce you to the claims adjuster. This person is responsible for conducting a thorough investigation of the accident. Part of this is called a recorded statement. It serves as your account of the crash memorialized in a legally obtained recording. The claims adjuster will guide you through the recorded statement. The questions will not all make sense, and many of you have likely answered already. Part of the purpose of the recorded statement is to gauge your honesty in recounting the crash.

A personal injury lawyer is a good ally to have even when giving a recorded statement to your claims adjuster. You may be asked to speak with the other driver's claims adjuster. It is important to note that your consistency and honesty in every detail are crucial to the investigation. However, if you do not know an answer or are unsure, do not guess. Doing this may set you up for contradictory statements.

Fault Determination

The claims adjusters for the insurance companies determine who caused the crash. Assigning liability to a driver means that the corresponding insurer is responsible for paying for injuries and damage their driver caused. If the other driver has caused the crash, you have the right to receive compensation according to that driver's insurance policy. There are limits to what the policy will pay, so if your injuries or the damage to your vehicle wind up exceeding these limits, you may need to proceed with a personal injury lawsuit against the insurance company and their driver. Doing this will require extensive medical evidence like the reports authored from the personal injury claim process.

Damage Awards

After a court case, you should receive financial compensation intended to cover your medical costs incurred and those you may need in the future. There are three typical financial damage awards the court gives. The most common is special compensatory damages that cover the money you paid to the car accident doctor Houston who treated you, plus any income you lost if you could not work. The judge may decide that your injuries have caused irreparable emotional turmoil and pain and award you general compensatory damages. This amount is to help compensate you for anguish, something you cannot put a dollar amount on. Finally, the last type of financial damages awarded is punitive. The only person who can grant this is the judge. It is usually a high amount and serves as a punishment for the at-fault driver.

 

In the aftermath of a crash, you may feel bewildered and not know where to turn. CityWide Injury is available at any time to help with the personal injury claim process. The trained staff will diagnose and treat various car accident injuries. CityWide can also recommend a personal injury attorney to get you through the claims and court processes. Let the professionals at CityWide Injury assist you in your time of need.