Why can’t they just pay me? It’s their fault.
The insurance company thinks it can save money by “waiting you out.” They want to get rid of the case all at once.
And they don’t know how bad you’re hurt until you’ve provided them with everything they need to know.
It’s really frustrating. It’s a rear end accident. Or maybe a stop sign. You’re hurting. You’ve got doctor bills, and you’re missing work. You need money. But they won’t pay.
Insurance companies hardly ever pay you before the case is settled. They want to make sure that the case is over.
The fact that you need money is a bargaining chip they use against you.
Let’s say that you have a $500,000.00 case. You’ve been off work for eight months. You don’t think you’ll be able to make the next mortgage payment.
The insurance company offers you $350,000.00 in exchange for a release of all claims.
Does that mortgage payment possibly motivate you to take the $350,000.00? And do you think the insurance company knows your answer to that question?
There’s more to it than that, of course. The insurance company can’t value the lawsuit until it knows everything it needs to about the case – how bad you’re hurt, whether your injury is permanent, what your total lost wages will be.
In fact, even you can’t answer these questions until you’ve spent a lot of time with your doctor, and he’s had a lot of time to let his skill – and time – improve you.
A good lawyer makes one of his first jobs getting the insurance company everything it needs to evaluate the lawsuit. And he won’t talk settlement until he can answer the questions the insurance company needs to know, and give the company what it needs to understand the lawsuit.
I have been a lawyer over 30 years. I get the medical records I need to settle the case as soon as I can. And I try to keep the insurance company up to date on my client’s treatment. If you’ve been injured in an accident, talk with an experienced Cincinnati injury lawyer> about the case. Call me, William Strubbe, at 513-621-4775.
Because all situations are different, and because there may be other facts pertaining to your case that I don’t know about, you should not rely on this answer for legal advice. I am not your attorney, and no lawyer client relationship has been formed.
{ 0 comments… add one }