If you have been involved in a personal injury case, you likely want to know what can be done to ensure that the claim is fairly looked at so that you can receive the settlement that you want to receive. When insurance provides a settlement arrangement, it can always be argued.
Here's how the insurance goes through the process of creating a settlement:
1. Investigates the Accident
Before the insurance does anything, they send out an adjustor to investigate the facts behind the claim. The insurance wants all the information that can be gathered, such as police reports, witness statements, and medical records and bills that involve the injury that you have endured.
2. Determines a Fair Settlement
Based on the information that the adjustor has gathered, both the adjustor and the investigator determine what a fair settlement may be. The information is thoroughly reviewed and the value of the claim is determined by the amount of liability, injuries, financial damage, and extent of fault.
For example, if the person at fault was not entirely aware that he or she was at fault for the injuries endured, then your settlement may be less than if the person at fault was aware of their negligence in the case.
3. Searches for Inconsistencies in Story
If you have given your story behind the accident, but it suddenly changes later on in the case, then this will be held against you. Any lie that is caught will likely readjust the evaluation of your claim, or guarantee a loss when you go to court to arrange a settlement in your favor. This goes for both you and the person held accountable for your injury.
If the person at fault says they had no idea that there was a slippery floor, for instance, in the home in which you slipped in, but then later on state that they were aware that it was raining that day, then this suggests that they must have known that this would cause some slipperiness on the floors in their home, especially if people have been going in and out during the day that day.
By knowing how the insurance evaluates claims, you can be sure that you can have more trust in receiving a fair settlement arrangement. Of course, if you believe there are inconsistencies in the information that the adjustor has collected, then you can make this known and you can get your lawyer to try and fight for a better settlement arrangement.
To learn more, contact a professional like Sharkey Gregory V Attorney with any questions or concerns you have.
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