Frequently an accident victim poses this question to an attorney: What is my case worth? The details about a collision represent only a portion of the factors that work to determine the value of any case. Insurance companies do their best to limit the amount of money awarded to just about any accident victim.
Questions to ask before filing a claim
Does the at-fault party have liability insurance? That covers the underlying accident, not just the damages suffered by the driver. Assuming that you are the victim, what are your injuries? Unless you have sustained major injuries, you should expect the insurance company to start with a low offer.
What if the at-fault party does not have much coverage?
In that case, the victim’s injuries will not be covered. It becomes the victim’s responsibility to examine what coverage he or she can make use of, in this particular situation. For instance, the victim should check to see if a health insurance plan can be used to cover the medical expenses.
Does the victim have comprehensive coverage? That is the same as underinsured motorist coverage. Some states require all drivers to pay for such insurance. You might want to talk with your personal injury lawyer in Edmonton.
Despite the coverage’s dual name, it has a single purpose. It allows a car accident claim to be negotiated by the victim’s insurance company. Utilization of comprehensive coverage can affect the rates charged a policy holder.
Sometimes, a policy holder that has made use of the purchased comprehensive coverage gets informed that the insurance company will start charging a higher rate for the same policy holder’s premiums. At other time, a policy holder might be given a period of 6 months, in which to show that he or she can remain accident-free. If the policy holder finishes that 6-month period without getting any accident, then the policy holder’s premium does not get raised. Consequently, someone that has been involved in a fender-bender might utter this plea: Please do not call your insurance. If I have to contact my insurance company, they will raise my rate.
If this request comes from the at-fault driver, it becomes a real imposition on the opposite party. That is especially true, if the other driver has a pre-existing condition, one that might have been aggravated by the force of the collision.
What might cause an insurance company to re-evaluate its approach to dealing with drivers that have utilized the comprehensive coverage?
An insurance company would not change its approach just because some policy holders were urging victims to dispense with contacting the insurer. Still, a coincidence can have an accident take place just weeks after one specific policy holder has remained accident-free for the designated period of 6 months.