What Will the Insurance Company for the Person, Persons, or Company at Fault Do About My Claim?

Once the insurance company has been informed about the claim, a file is immediately setup in your case. An insurance claims adjuster will be assigned to your file by a claims supervisor or manager, and he or she may actually end up assigning different adjusters to your case as it goes along.

The claims adjuster is the one who will be held responsible for your file, and he or she will keep in contact with your attorney. The adjuster will also conduct an independent investigation of your claim to determine certain things, such as: who is at fault in your case; whether or not you bear any of the fault for your own injuries; the potential witnesses in the case (for both sides); the place where the accident occurred; and the contents of various reports, which include the police reports, DMV reports, and any other investigative reports that exist. A skilled Torrance personal injury attorney can further advise you regarding the process that most claims adjusters go through when handling personal injury claims.

After that preliminary investigation, the adjuster will ask for medical reports and any other reports that speak to your injuries. The adjuster will also go through documents related to your lost wages. But most importantly, the insurance adjuster will want an accurate accounting of all of your doctors’ bills, medication bills, hospital bills, therapy bills, and any other actual expenses that were incurred because of your injury. That is why it is crucial for you to keep an accurate account of your doctors’ bills, lost income, and other expenses that stem from your injury. If you need a Torrance personal injury attorney, please call DA&D Law at (800) 257-6666 for a free consultation.

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How Does the Insurance Company Value My Personal Injury Case?

This can be a very difficult question to answer. The first point of action will be for the claims supervisor or manager to set aside a specific amount of money as a possible value of your personal injury case. This amount is typically called a “reserve.” Such reserves are the value that the insurance company has established on your claim and those reserve amounts may be modified as the case progresses.

In the most severe cases, the reserves may be equivalent to what are known as the policy limits. Policy limits are the limit amounts of liability that are established in the insurance policy of the person or persons who were the cause of your injury. A skilled Torrance personal injury attorney can further explain the valuation process.

During the beginning stages of the case, the insurance company will monitor your medical bills, lost wages and many other factors. The company will also take into account the quality of evidence that exists against their insured, the quality of your witnesses as well as their own witnesses, the extent of your liability in the case, and other important considerations, including previous injuries. And if you have previous injuries that are located in the same place as your current claimed injuries, the insurance company will certainly look into those prior medical records and go through them extra carefully.

Your personal injury attorney will be informed by the insurance company as the process progresses about the important factors that are being taken into consideration in your particular case. If you need a Torrance personal injury attorney, please call DA&D Law at (800) 257-6666  for a free consultation.

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What Happens During the Trial?

In those cases that are not too difficult, the trial process typically has a very specific format, with very few exceptions, in most cases. Depending on the jurisdiction where the trial is taking place, your trial will probably open with the judge (or the judge’s assistant or bailiff) calling for all attorneys, litigants, and prospective jurors to enter the courtroom. Once everyone has entered, the jury selection process will begin, and the attorneys for both sides are given the opportunity to exclude certain jurors at that time.

When the jury has been selected, your Los Angeles personal injury attorneys, along with opposing counsel, will be given the opportunity to make brief opening statements. These statements are typically short summaries of the case in general so that the jury will be able to logically follow along during the trial. Once the attorneys have finished making their opening statements, they will then begin presenting the case to the judge and jury.

At this time, you may be called to testify, along with any other witnesses, friends, family, or experts who may be requested to testify. Everyone who takes the witness stand will be required to testify under oath. You, along with everyone else who is there to testify, will be subjected to questions from your attorney, as well as the opposing counsel in most cases and, at times, even the judge.

Once the opposing attorney has completed his or her cross examination, your attorney may find it necessary to ask a few additional questions (redirect examination) in an effort to “clear up” any testimony that may have been brought out during cross examination.

If you need a skilled personal injury attorney Los Angeles, please call DA&D Law (908) 248-4404 for a free consultation.

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What Can I Do to Assist My Lawyer With My Case?

One of the most important things for you to do in an effort to help you attorney with your case is to give him or her all injury-related documentation, which includes copies of your doctor’s bills, expenses, and a record of lost wages from your job.

Additionally, your Los Angeles personal injury attorney may request that you sign a number of documents that will give him or her authorization to obtain personal files and information about you from doctors, hospitals, and other establishments. Your attorney cannot get this information without your signed written consent, so signing these documents in a timely manner will be of great benefit to your attorney.

There are a few other things that you should keep in mind when dealing with your attorney. It is very important that you return all of his or her phone calls as soon as possible so as not to delay the progress of your case. Also, you should be sure to read all documentation that you receive from your attorney and maintain a file of that along with all related bills and expenses associated with your case.

Furthermore, you will certainly want to keep all medical appointments that are made with medical facilities in relation to your case, and you will also want to have a visible record (via photographs or video, if possible) of your injuries. Therefore, if necessary, have your doctor take these pictures for you when you attend your appointment. If you need a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, please call DA&D Law (xxx) xxx-xxxx for a free consultation.

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Trial Procedure: What Happens After All Testimony Has Been Given?

Once all the testimony in the case has been given by both sides at the trial, both attorneys will then be given the opportunity to make closing arguments.  In closing arguments, both your Los Angeles personal injury attorney and the attorney for the opposition will have a chance to go over the main points of the case for the benefit of both the judge and jury and then ask for a verdict.

Your attorney will be allowed to speak first, followed by the attorney for the defense. After the defense attorney completes his or her closing argument, your attorney may or may not be offered a brief amount of time for rebuttal statements.  Once closing arguments are done, the judge will then instruct the jury on the applicable law and how it should be applied to the case at hand.

Depending on the judge, this process can take up to an hour or more.  The judge’s instructions are the last words that the jury will hear in the case before they undergo deliberations.  The judge is not allowed to influence the jury one way or the other as to the potential outcome in the case.  Once the judge finishes his or her instructions, the jury is then allowed to deliberate in a closed room.

When the jury has completed their deliberations and has reached a verdict, the judge will call everyone back into the courtroom and the verdict will be announced.  It is during this time that you will learn whether or not you have won your case and how much money, if any, has been awarded by the jury.  If you need a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, please call today for a free consultation.

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Wrongfully Denied Claims: The Games That Insurers Play

Quite frequently, policyholders and claimants do not recover from insurers because they assume that the insurers are right and do not see any reason to challenge them or object to the denial of coverage. Sadly, however, the insurers will often play games when making adjustments to claims, because the insurance adjusters believe that many claims are without merit. Some of these games may not be evident to the untrained eye; however, a learned Los Angeles personal injury attorney can help you see whether or not an insurer’s denial is justified or proper.

There are quite a few signs in an insurer’s denial letter that can show that the denial is improper. For example, if the insurer neglects to mention specific insurance policy provisions in its denial letter, that may be an indication that the insurer is acting improperly. Also, if the insurer denies coverage based on language that it claims is in its policy but doesn’t actually exist, that can be a tell-tale sign of improper denial.

Additionally, there may be improper denial if the insurer fails to give you copies of the policies under which it is denying coverage or if the insurer does not state the claim-related facts in its denial of coverage.

Another indication of improper denial can be that, despite the fact that the insurer is denying the claim, it asks for more claim-related information that is typically used against the policyholder later on. Also, if the insurer never takes the time to meet with you as the policyholder before denying the claim, but it makes sure that the file has a form letter that requests information that is either unnecessary or irrelevant, this may be a further indication of improper denial.

If you need a qualified personal injury attorney Los Angeles, please do not hesitate to call the law firm of DA&D for a free consultation.

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When Is the Trial?

This is a common question that is often asked by the parties who are involved in a personal injury lawsuit. Yet, it is pretty much an impossible question to answer because of the various factors that can have an effect on when your case will actually reach the trial level. For example, you have to take into account the number of cases that are already in the queue for trial in your particular county or jurisdiction, as well as the number of judges that are available to hear trials in your area. Additionally, your Los Angeles personal injury attorney should inform you that another factor to consider is whether or not both sides have finished all required discovery.

Something else for you to consider is the way in which the trial calendar is set up in your jurisdiction. For instance, are criminal trials given priority in your area? Despite the numerous factors that come into play when trying to determine a possible trial date, your attorney should still be able to approximate when your case will reach the trial level. In certain jurisdictions, cases can take a year or less after the lawsuit has been filed to reach trial status; however, in other places, it can take many years.

At any rate, you will have sufficient notice to prepare for your trial. Regrettably, in some counties, you may have to “get ready” several times before your case is actually heard. In some jurisdictions, the court will calendar a huge amount of cases for trial, but only a few will actually be heard from that particular calendar. Your attorney will further explain this process to you. If you need the services of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney Los Angeles, please do not hesitate to call the law firm of DA&D for a free consultation.

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How to Keep Track of All the Bills

Once you’ve been involved in an accident and decide to pursue a personal injury claim, one of the most important things for you to do is to maintain thorough records of all of your medical bills. A skillful Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help you with this matter; however, here a few tips to help you get started.

First of all, you should make note of all doctor or facility visits. Be sure to get a bill from each of them. Also, if you have been prescribed medications, ensure that you save a copy of all prescriptions and charges incurred from the drugstore for all injury-related medications that you pay for out of your own pocket.

Additionally, you should maintain a chart that has the dates of any medical services received, the amounts of related bills, and the purchases of any related medications. This is important because it will be your record of all medical bills that were incurred due to your injury. You will also want to provide your Los Angeles personal injury attorney with copies of all medical, prescription, and accident-related bills so that he or she will be prepared when it comes time to discuss a possible settlement with the insurance company. Do not simply assume that your lawyer received a copy of the bills from the facilities or doctors, because if any of these bills are missed, it may result in you not getting an adequate settlement amount.

Even if your medical bills are paid by a health insurance company or your employer, you must still keep copies for yourself and ensure that your lawyer gets copies as well.  If you need a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, please call the law firm of DA&D for a free consultation.

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Paying Your Medical Bills

There are several methods by which your accident-related medical bills can be paid, and depending on the particulars of your case, your Los Angeles personal injury attorney will advise you in great detail of all the possibilities. For example, it may be that your own health insurance, either from your spouse, your parents (if you are under the age of majority), your employer, or a policy that you may have purchased on your own, will cover the bills. Also, it might be possible that the automobile insurance policy of your own vehicle or that of the person with whom you were riding may provide medical payment coverage for you.

Additionally, the workers’ compensation insurance from your job (if you were injured while on the job or as a result of your employment) or the liability insurance coverage of the person or company who caused your injuries may cover the payment of your medical bills. Moreover, if you do not have insurance coverage of any kind and have had to pay out of your own pocket, you will be reimbursed for any payments that you have made when and if your case settles.

Based on the specifics of your case, your medical bills may be covered by any of the above-mentioned options. When meeting with your Los Angeles personal injury attorney, he or she will take the time to thoroughly explain any alternatives, given the facts of your case. If you need the services of a skillful Los Angeles personal injury attorney, please call the DA&D (800) 257-6666 for a free consultation.

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The Length of Time to Complete Settlement after the First Demand Letter

Generally, the amount of time that it takes to go to final settlement after the first demand letter has been sent in your personal injury case can range from several weeks to a few months or longer. However, in those cases involving smaller or more straightforward liability in which the injuries are nominal, the process can usually be completed in a month or two. Every case is different, though, and a well-informed Torrance personal injury attorney will be able to further advise you with regard to his or her opinion on the amount of time it will probably take to settle your case.

Time tables can vary because there are a great number of factors that can affect response times and the insurance claims adjuster’s final offer, including things such as the number of files that the adjuster is managing; whether or not there is clear liability on the part of the insurance company’s client; the internal claims process of the insurance company; and even the overall state of the economy with respect to the insurance claims process.

Another thing to take into consideration when trying to determine a possible settlement timeframe is how well the claim has been documented from the time of its initial preparation. If poor record keeping exists, that will undoubtedly delay your settlement. Furthermore, if you were comparatively negligent, or if there are other parties who may be responsible for your injuries, dealing with those issues can seriously affect the timeliness of settlement.

If you need the services of a skilled Torrance personal injury attorney, please contact DA&D Law Offices at (800) 257-6666 for a free consultation.

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