The Seattle Personal Injury Blog
Posted Tuesday, December 24, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
When submitting medical bills, the supporting medical reports should accompany them. Your Seattle slip and fall attorney will need these records for submission to the insurance adjuster.
Importance of Medical ReportsUnless the appropriate reports are submitted with medical bills, it often happens that an adjuster will not consider the claim valid. Medical reports explain the charges shown on the invoices by specifying what treatments were given and when, what the physician diagnosed and the prognosis. If your Seattle slip and fall lawyer does not include these when he/she submits bills to an insurance adjuster, the adjuster may lack confidence in the charges shown as there is nothing to back them up. Thus, it is possible that those charges may be ignored or discounted.
Documentation Is a MustInsurance adjusters tend to regard claims with a certain amount of suspicion. They look for possibilities that the charges may be poorly founded, exaggerated or dubious. This has nothing to do with trust, nor does it reflect on your integrity or that of your Seattle slip and fall attorney. The adjuster is simply doing due diligence. Any settlement demand submitted that does not include documentation that validates the charges shown is likely to be viewed as questionable.
The Breakdown of ExpensesSince adjusters must reconcile a breakdown of expenses, as it may appear on a cover letter or in a settlement notebook binder provided by your Seattle slip and fall attorney, copies of bills referenced must also be included in the package. The adjuster is unlikely to have much confidence in a bill that is referenced but not physically documented.
The “Form” ReportWhen medical reports look like forms created and printed from a word processor, they do not inspire any belief in their validity. Adjusters who work with certain physicians and health care facilities routinely become familiar with the reports that are normally submitted. They are able to assemble a body of knowledge on these physicians and/or facilities and how they practice medicine. Your Seattle slip and fall attorney is well aware that when medical reports become identical with the only significant difference being the name of the patient, the claim becomes suspect.
Documentation of Lost WagesIf it happened that injuries sustained in a fall rendered you unable to work for a sustained period of time, your Seattle slip and fall attorney will require documentation from your employer specifying the time you were absent and any wages that you lost. This must be accurately reflected in the paperwork submitted with your settlement demand if the adjuster is to take it seriously without questioning the amount.
Be Sure Your Claim Is Well PresentedYou can avoid the pitfalls shown above with the guidance and assistance of an experienced, dedicated Seattle slip and fall attorney. Contact Chris Thayer by calling (206) 340-2008 today.
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Posted Tuesday, December 24, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
If you have a wrongful death claim for your spouse or another, a Seattle injury attorney can help determine who may be entitled to survivor’s benefits. In most cases, those persons deemed dependents of the deceased, have a benefit claim.
Five Factor TestIn determining whether a claimant qualifies as a dependent of the deceased, your Seattle injury attorney will explain how adjusters look at these factors.Was the claimant completely or partially dependent on the deceased?How long would the claimant have been dependent on the deceased if he/she had not died?How close was the claimant to the deceased?What expenses are involved in the claimant’s care (food, clothing, education, etc.)?What was the status of the claimant?
Your Seattle injury lawyer can discuss what documents or evidence may be necessary to support your responses to these questions.
Determining StatusYour Seattle injury attorney will analyze a claimant’s status to the decedent. In particular, adjusters consider children, spouses and parents.
ChildrenIn general, your Seattle injury lawyer will explain that the greater the dependency, the higher the potential claim value. Older children would likely need less financial support than younger children.
SpousesAdjusters should look at what financial amount would keep the surviving spouse in the lifestyle he/she is accustomed. Love and companionship loss may also be compensated.
ParentsParent dependents are often the most difficult to prove for your Seattle injury attorney. Proof of financial support from the decedent is necessary. Even if not financially supported by the decedent, a Seattle injury attorney can make a claim for a parent’s emotional loss of their child. The closer the relationship (frequent visitor), the higher the potential claim value.
When dealing with a wrongful death claim, put an experienced Seattle injury attorney to work for you. Contact Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008.
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Posted Thursday, December 12, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
When Does the Investigation Begin?
Insurance adjusters, as your Seattle injury lawyer can explain, begin their investigations immediately upon receiving the claim. They will first determine where the responsibility lies, whether or not the persons responsible have adequate insurance coverage, whether or not they are in arrears and whether or not there is any cause for refusal of coverage.
How Is the Investigation Carried Out?Normally, investigations are carried out by the adjuster to whom the claim was assigned. Your Seattle injury attorney can tell you that much of the work is done over the phone, but they also conduct face-to-face interviews when necessary, sometimes without advanced notification. Each participant or witness will be asked to give their information, and the adjuster will record their statements and all discussions with care.
What Is the Adjuster Looking For?Your Seattle injury lawyer can verify that there is a pattern, a precise sequence of steps that comprise the process of investigating a claim. The insurance company is watching for anything unusual that stands out, such as injuries that occurred prior to the event, vehicle accidents involving low speeds and little contact, claims of soft tissue injuries like muscle sprains and any treatments by a chiropractor. They determine the existence of any past claims made on the part of the current claimant by referring to a computer-generated “claim index.”
How Do They Decide the Value of the Injuries Sustained?As a skilled Seattle injury lawyer can attest, depending on the relative size of the case, there is a medical audit performed. This assessment is done by an independent authority. This person will, after examining this injury, place a value on the injury that is in the same range as others of a similar nature. This evaluation does not take into account the effect the injury may have on the claimant’s livelihood. A torn ligament will be evaluated in exactly the same manner as any other whether the patient is an administrative worker who sits at a desk or a ballet dancer.
How Does the Investigation Proceed?Normally, progress is rapid in the early stages. Your Seattle injury lawyer can tell you that in automobile cases damage to property will be evaluated first followed by a determination made as to whether or not it will be paid. The person whose policy is involved is generally the first to be interviewed, and they often will give statements that they feel will be beneficial to themselves. As the effect of an accident on their premiums or the cancellation of their policy is a matter of extreme concern, they may bias their reports to be as helpful to their own interests as possible.
What About My Statement?Your statement is actually next on the list. Your Seattle injury lawyer will recommend that you speak with your counsel prior to talking to the adjuster. Further, your personal injury lawyer should be informed should an interview be required of you so that you can have counsel with you at that meeting.
What About the Police?The adjuster will speak with the police officers involved, and their reports will be examined. These reports can help to determine which party is liable but cannot be used as evidence in court. This usually happens fairly quickly (except in a case of great significance) as does the adjuster’s examination of the scene of the incident. The adjuster may take pictures or make sketches of the area that might help recreate exactly what happened.
What Happens After That?The adjuster will attempt to locate anyone that might have seen the incident and ask them to describe what they saw with particular interest in witnesses whose input can be of benefit to the defendant. The damage to the vehicle will be examined by an appraiser who will provide an approximate cost of repair. This generally occurs before very much time has passed—in fact, it usually happens in a matter of days.
Be Sure You Know What to ExpectIf you have been involved in an accident, your Seattle injury lawyer is there to support you. Contact Chris Thayer by calling (206) 340-2008 today.
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Posted Thursday, December 12, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
The legal system was set up so that every person has a way to fight injustices and ensure his or her rights are defended. Those who have suffered from an injury will often fare better with the assistance of a Seattle injury lawyer. Your counsel can walk you through these three main stages of a personal injury case.
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Posted Thursday, December 5, 2013 by
Chris Thayer
Economic troubles affect not only individuals and families but government establishments, such as the judicial system, as well. A personal injury attorney in Seattle will be familiar with the impacts and can work with claimants to form the best strategies to overcome judiciary shortcomings.
Insurance Companies May Decline NegotiationsHealth insurance companies can be responsible for paying for an injured claimant’s medical bills, but they might also receive compensation for their payments after the claimant collects a payout.
A personal injury lawyer in Seattle can sometimes negotiate with a health insurance company to reduce a claimant’s liens. However, this is usually not the case in a struggling economy. In unfavorable economic times, health insurance companies may decline to accommodate a client’s personal injury attorney in Seattle.
A Personal Injury Attorney in Seattle Could Adjust a Client’s Settlement Expectations Sluggish economies can hit some individuals hard. Add a personal injury on top of already strained finances and it is unsurprising that many personal injury claimants are worried about debt. Thus, they might hope for a generous personal injury settlement to resolve their financial troubles.
Expecting a large settlement is unrealistic for many reasons, including the following.Plaintiffs and their personal injury attorney in Seattle possess less leverage to force a settlement in a struggling economy.Insurance adjusters know that false and inflated cases become more frequent when the economy is poor and may therefore take a more rigid stance on settling.
A personal injury lawyer in Seattle can also steer plaintiffs away from rushing to accept meager settlements.
Claimants Should Expect Trials and Costs to Be AffectedIn tough financial times, the judiciary severely limits its functions. A personal injury attorney in Seattle could tell his or her clients that they should expect two things from the judicial system during financial cutbacks:Receiving a trial date will take much longer.A case will most likely cost more.
Don’t Let a Rough Economy Stop Your CaseChris Thayer is a skilled personal injury attorney in Seattle who knows how to navigate the judicial system during a poor economy. Contact him at (206) 340-2008 to discuss the details of your case.
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