At Bill Easterly & Associates, our Nashville personal injury attorneys have met people who have been injured in a wide range of scenarios. These scenarios include car accidents, slip and falls, and dog bites, among many others. Despite the differing causes of the injuries, most personal injury claims will still follow a fairly similar process.
Step One: File A Claim With The Insurance Company
In the majority of injury claims, you are generally trying to get compensation from an insurance company of some sort. For car accidents, you will seek compensation from the other driver’s insurance provider. In a medical malpractice case, you will start the claim with the doctor or hospital’s insurance provider.
Before you can start a lawsuit against the insurance company, you must give them the opportunity to accept your claim and pay you a reasonable amount based on the circumstances of the case. In many cases, the insurance company will offer you a relatively low figure upon the initial review of the claim. If you accept this settlement, you will not be able to pursue further compensation!
Step Two: Hire An Attorney To Negotiate With The Insurer
While you can attempt to negotiate with the insurance provider on your own, you will likely get much better results by retaining an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer. The insurance company will rarely dispute that you are injured, but they may dispute the extent of your injuries and the pain and suffering you experienced as a result. They may also attempt to prove that they are not actually responsible for the claim, because their client did not act in a negligent or careless manner. Many personal injury cases are resolved at this step. If a settlement cannot be reached, you’ll need to move on to step three.
Step Three: File A Lawsuit
If negotiations break down, the best course of action is generally to file a lawsuit with the help of your attorney. They will start by filing the necessary paperwork with the court, and will then compile evidence and build a strong case for your claim.
Why Is It Beneficial To Hire An Attorney?
For one thing, it shows the insurance company that you are taking your claim very seriously. Your lawyer can also present them with compelling evidence, which can make the adjustor doubt their ability to win in court. Perhaps most importantly, an attorney can help you comply with the process – many claims are denied simply because they are filed or handled incorrectly!