Know Your Rights
Before you settle your case…. learn your rights!
| TREATMENT OF YOUR INJURIES | |
| You will be surprised how important your health becomes once you start losing it. And unfortunately, many people settle their case with the insurance company before they learn the full extent of their injuries. So remember, if the accident is clearly the other party’s fault, it’s your right to get the care you need to get you back to the way you felt and functioned before the accident. |
| CAR DAMAGE | |
| If the accident is clearly the other party’s fault, they are obligated to properly fix your car, or if it can’t be fixed, they need to compensate you fairly for the car’s value. |
| RENTAL CAR | |
| If the other party is at fault, you can be compensated for the reasonable expense of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired. However, your own insurance carrier will not cover this unless you purchased rental coverage. |
| MISSED WORK | |
| You should be compensated for missed pay from your job. Make sure your doctors and lawyer are aware of your job situation. |
| BE WARY OF EARLY SETTLEMENT OFFERS | |
| Be careful if you are offered a quick settlement from an insurance company. You may want to consult with an attorney before signing any documents. |
| WILL THE ACCIDENT AFFECT YOUR INSURANCE RATES | |
| If the accident is not your fault, your insurance carrier cannot “rate your policy” for fault. Be aware, however, that you can be rated on a “frequency of claims” basis and therefore even if not your fault, a property damage claim can have rating consequences. Also be aware that the allocation of fault is a business judgment the insurance company makes and it is very difficult, if not impossible, for an individual to contest the carrier’s assessment of fault. You might consider hiring an attorney at this point. |