When you are involved in a car accident or slip and fall on another person’s property, you may decide to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. If they approve the claim and make a settlement offer, the amount will be unique to your case. But how do insurance companies decide what a claim is worth? Learn more about the insurance claim valuation process below. Understanding common injury compensation calculations can help you make an informed settlement decision. Claim Worth Determination Is Based on Economic and Non-Economic Damages Many insurance providers who pay personal injury claims account for the claimant’s economic and non-economic damages. Measuring one’s economic losses is often simpler. To do this, adjusters review official documents outlining all concrete expenses related to an accident, such as: Medical bills Property damage repair estimates Employment records showing missed work due to an injury Prescription receipts The sum of economic damages is just one factor in a settlement calculation. How do insurance companies decide what a claim is worth after having this information? To compensate someone for their pain and suffering, insurers may use…Read More
Freight companies must maintain their fleets to avoid unexpected mechanical failures. If they don’t invest in routine inspections and address potential issues, companies may put their drivers and other motorists in harm’s way. Fleet maintenance negligence and commercial vehicle repair failure can both lead to accidents. Common issues that lead to trucking accidents include: Faulty brakes Burnt-out headlights, brake lights, or turn signals Loose cargo Tire blowouts Poor suspension and traction If you’re the victim of a commercial vehicle accident, contact a personal injury lawyer. Attorneys may share your improper truck upkeep liability concerns and conduct an investigation to determine fault. You may be able to pursue legal action against a trucking company for failing to maintain the vehicle. Companies Could Face Serious Penalties for Trucking Maintenance Violations A trucking company’s negligent maintenance may be a direct violation of federal safety regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration dictates that commercial trucking companies take proactive steps to avoid accidents. These include: Performing pre- and post-trip truck inspections Keeping records of all vehicle repairs and services Correcting a problem immediately upon noticing it Failure to comply…Read More
When a truck accident leaves you hurt, you have a few potential avenues to seek compensation. You can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company and risk being denied or receiving an offer that does not fully reflect the extent of damages. You can also contact a truck accident attorney in Florida to discuss the details of your case and develop a legal strategy. Working with a truck crash lawyer can have several advantages compared to the alternative. Discover some potential benefits of letting a commercial vehicle accident attorney represent you. Personal Injury Lawyers Don’t Usually Charge Up Front Will hiring a truck accident attorney in Florida cost you anything up front? In many cases, no. Lawyers who practice in this area often operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they only charge clients who win their cases or agree to a settlement. After sustaining a trucking injury, legal help may not seem like a possibility. Victims may believe that they can’t afford a lawyer in addition to their other accident-related expenses. However, choosing an attorney who doesn’t charge upfront costs may…Read More
After a car accident, many people want to settle their case as quickly as possible to put the process behind them and move on. The most effective way to resolve these cases efficiently is to collaborate with an attorney who specializes in this area, ensuring that the compensation value remains high. It is also important to understand that some factors delaying settlement proceedings are in the victim’s favor, and a faster resolution may not be a good thing. Why the Fastest Insurance Settlement May Not Be Ideal While many are eager to close an accident case as soon as possible to avoid the headaches of a drawn-out process, it is crucial to be strategic about personal injury settlements to avoid lowball offers and secure fair compensation. No lawyer can determine the value of a personal injury case immediately. The exploration and review process uncovers evidence over weeks or months, and while this can be frustrating, it often leads to higher compensation. For instance, if medical records can prove that one’s injuries are permanent or cause long-term disability, the damages will be higher. Accident victims should…Read More
After a car accident, many people want to settle their case as quickly as possible to put the process behind them and move on. The most effective way to resolve these cases efficiently is to collaborate with an attorney who specializes in this area, ensuring that the compensation value remains high. It is also important to understand that some factors delaying settlement proceedings are in the victim’s favor, and a faster resolution may not be a good thing. Why the Fastest Insurance Settlement May Not Be Ideal While many are eager to close an accident case as soon as possible to avoid the headaches of a drawn-out process, it is crucial to be strategic about personal injury settlements to avoid lowball offers and secure fair compensation. No lawyer can determine the value of a personal injury case immediately. The exploration and review process uncovers evidence over weeks or months, and while this can be frustrating, it often leads to higher compensation. For instance, if medical records can prove that one’s injuries are permanent or cause long-term disability, the damages will be higher. Accident victims should…Read More
The aftermath of a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming, and those injured may find it difficult to prove they were not at fault for the incident. Proving a total or partial lack of fault is essential in recovering fair compensation from a settlement, so injured parties should strongly consider working with a personal injury attorney to collect evidence and negotiate settlement offers appropriately. Understanding Comparative Negligence Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means that in a motorcycle accident, the compensation awarded depends on the degree of fault attributed to each party involved. For instance, if one driver is 30% at fault, they will receive 70% of the total value of their claim. To receive 100% of the value of a claim, the injured motorist must prove that the other driver or external circumstances were entirely at fault for the accident. First Step: Hiring an Attorney The best way to protect one’s rights after a personal injury is to hire a qualified legal representative. An attorney helps to ensure that the injured party is taken seriously and makes it easier to navigate the sometimes confusing…Read More
It is important to be prepared when facing an upcoming settlement negotiation after a personal injury. To seek maximum insurance settlement payouts, work with a personal injury attorney who can assist in preparing the claim and has experience representing victims in negotiations. After hiring an attorney, there are a few insurance claim tips to keep in mind that may make it easier to achieve a fair settlement. Go Into Negotiations With a Settlement Amount While there is no guarantee that the insurance company's initial offer will meet the injured party's expectations, it is essential to have a reasonable amount in mind when presenting the organized demand letter. The insurance adjuster will assess the demand and all supporting documents and make an offer lower than the demanded sum. Therefore, it is essential to have a bottom line in mind for negotiations. An attorney can help injured parties determine a fair and reasonable amount to expect before entering into settlement negotiations or submitting a claim. Do Not Feel Pressured Into Accepting the First Offer Because insurance company tactics often include lowball first offers to reduce the payout,…Read More
Assuming partial blame for a car accident is relatively common in Florida. Often, car crashes aren’t only one person’s fault. They involve several overlapping circumstances, and multiple parties assume some of the blame. Navigating partial fault in a car accident might feel confusing. Can you still seek compensation or file a lawsuit if you were partially to blame? The answer depends primarily on your percentage of fault. What If Multiple Parties Are Partially At Fault in a Florida Accident? Under Florida law, insurance companies can assign partial blame to multiple parties in an accident. Florida follows a "pure comparative negligence" policy for accidents. As long as a person is no more than 50% responsible for an accident, they can still seek compensation from the other driver or parties involved. If they are more than 50% responsible, they will be barred from seeking compensation. A person’s fault percentage also impacts the amount of compensation they can receive. If you were 20% responsible for an accident, for example, you would only be able to seek 80% of your damages. Other states follow other policies for assigning partial…Read More
Accidents involving semi-trucks produce devastating, life-altering damage in seconds. If you were the victim of a truck accident, you’re likely facing significant expenses and a long road to recovery ahead. Pursuing compensation from the truck company may help you begin to move forward. But proving that a trucking company was negligent in your accident isn’t always easy, as these companies often have strong legal teams defending them at every turn. Learn the evidence you need to effectively prove a trucking company’s negligence. Common Causes of Truck Accidents for Which the Company Is Liable Many semi-truck accidents are at least partially the result of the trucking company’s negligence. Common causes involving company negligence include: Lack of driver training: Some trucking companies fail to provide new drivers with adequate training in the interest of time. Those drivers might make mistakes that lead to serious accidents. Negligent hiring practices: Trucking companies have a duty to perform background checks and review driving records before hiring new drivers. Overlooking an issue in a driver’s history might make the company liable for accidents. Hours of service violations: When companies force or…Read More
If the at-fault driver in your car accident passed away, you may feel strange filing an insurance claim against them. Do you have the right to seek car accident compensation from the deceased? Or should you just leave their family alone? Seeking compensation isn’t personal; it’s your right as an accident victim. You may still be able to file an insurance claim or even a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and recover compensation. Often, you will not have to deal with the deceased driver’s family directly during this process. Filing an Insurance Claim Against the Deceased At-Fault Driver If your car accident happened in Florida, the state’s no-fault insurance rules will apply to your case. Florida drivers are responsible for carrying personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. They typically file insurance claims with their own companies after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. You would need to first file a claim with your insurance company for medical bill coverage, car repair compensation, and lost wages reimbursement. There is one main instance where you would need to file with the at-fault driver’s insurance instead: Your…Read More
