If I was injured in an accident, how do I legally prove how it happened?
Negotiations with an insurance company take place in letters and on the phone with an insurance adjuster, not in a courtroom with lawyers. So you don’t need legally perfect “proof” of anything. You just need to make a reasonable argument – in plain language—that the other person (or company) was careless, even if there are also plausible arguments on the other side. It is nevertheless important to preserve evidence and witness statements while the accident is fresh in everyone’s mind. Hence, the sooner you contact an attorney the easier it will be to determine what evidence or witness statements should be obtained and preserved.
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Can I get compensation if an accident might have been partly my fault?
Even if you might have partly caused an accident yourself, you can still receive compensation from anyone else who was careless and partly caused the accident. The amount of another person’s responsibility is determined by comparing his or her carelessness with your own. Fore example, if you were 25% at fault and the other person was 75% at fault, the other person must pay – through the insurance company – 75% of the fair compensation for your injuries. This rule is called “comparative negligence.”
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What if my physical limitations made the accident more likely or made my
injuries worse?
What if you have a bad knee, which makes one leg a bit unsteady? Or if your eyesight, even with glasses, is not very strong? If you fall on a broken stair, are you still entitled to compensation even though some one with stronger legs or better eyesight might not have fallen? Absolutely. The law in Montana makes a negligent party responsible for all damages caused by their negligence without regard or discount to a person more susceptible to damage because of a pre-existing condition.
How do insurance companies decide how much they’ll pay to compensate
someone for an injury?
Insurance companies and lawyers use a formula to calculate a range of compensation for an injury. The final payment figure, though, is the result of negotiations with the injured person. The formula is no secret. In general, an injured person will be reimbursed for:
A claims adjuster begins with the medical expenses, lost wages and other out of pocket costs. Then the intangibles – pain and other non-economic losses – are added in by multiplying the medical expenses by 1.5 to 2 times if the injuries are relatively minor, and up to 5 times if the injuries are more significant. The multiplier can go still higher – sometimes as much as 10 times medical expenses – if the injuries are particularly painful, serious or long-lasting. Finally lost income is added to the amount. Several factors raise the damages formula from the 1.5-times end toward the 5-times end: more painful, serious or long-lasting injuries, more invasive or long-lasting medical treatment, clearer medical evidence of extent of injuries, more obvious evidence of the other person’s fault, and less of your fault. You, too, can easily use this formula as the starting point for negotiations. Once the insurance adjuster knows that you understand the range of compensation for your injuries, negotiating a final settlement is usually fast and easy.
Will my health insurance coverage or paid sick leave from work limit my
compensation for an accident?
Whether you paid for medical care out of your own pocket or your health insurance covered it is none of a claims adjuster's business. The same goes for whether your lost time at work was covered by sick leave or vacation pay. In fact, it is improper for an adjuster even to ask about such payments. You paid for your health insurance and earned your sick leave or vacation pay; now the insurance for the person who caused the accident has to pay. Your own health insurance, however, may require that, out of your settlement, you reimburse it for some or all of the amounts it has paid to treat your injuries.
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I have just been in an automobile accident, what is the first thing I should
do?
If you are injured in an accident, it is important to seek treatment
immediately. Sometimes serious injuries do not cause immediate pain. If
you experience even minor pain after an accident, seek treatment immediately.
Remember to obtain the
name, address, license number, and insurance information from the other
drivers involved.
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Should I tell my version of what happened to anyone or should I “remain
silent?”
If the accident is serious, or if you are partially or totally at fault in the accident, you should contact a lawyer prior to speaking to anyone, if practical. Your lawyer can review the facts with you to ensure that your statement is clear and factually correct. If necessary, your lawyer can help you fill out any required accident reports and insurance claim forms. You will be asked at some point to provide your version of the accident, often by police if they are called to the scene. Your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company will also want your version of the accident. It is always preferable to contact an attorney before talking to the insurance adjuster.
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If I have been injured, who will pay my medical bills?
Most, if not all states require drivers to carry automobile
insurance. Most insurance policies have "no fault" coverage, meaning
that your insurance company will pay
your medical bills regardless of who is at fault. If you have health insurance,
you may also get coverage under your health policy. Most health care providers
will have different billing procedures depending on whether your treatment
is being covered by your auto or health insurer. A health insurer
or your auto insurer may have a right to be reimbursed from the at
fault party’s insurer for any medical expenses they advanced if you
are not found to be at fault for the accident. Who will pay for the
damage to my car? If you have purchased collision insurance, your insurance
company will pay to have your car fixed or will pay you the value of the
vehicle in a total loss. If you are not at fault in the accident, your insurance
company will seek to be reimbursed by the insurer of the driver at fault.
If you do not have collision, and you are not at fault, the insurer of the
driver at fault will pay for your property damage.
Can I get money for my lost wages and pain and suffering?
Most insurers will advance lost wages and uncovered medical expenses upon proper proof of the loss. Recovery for pain and suffering and other losses is usually not had until final settlement of the claim.
If I decide to sue, will I have to go to court?
Most car accident cases settle out of court. In many cases, it is clear who was at fault in the accident. Upon proper proof of damages and medical documentation, insurance companies usually settle the claim without the need for filing a lawsuit or having a trial. However, in some cases, the insurance company may deny liability on a claim or refuse to pay reasonable damages.
A lawsuit begins by filing a complaint. The person filing the complaint is called the plaintiff and person against who the complaint is filed is called the defendant. The defendant must file an answer addressing the allegations contained in the complaint and must raise any defenses the defendant may have. The defendant's insurance company will hire an attorney to represent the defendant and will pay any damages, up to the policy limits, that the plaintiff recovers in the lawsuit.
The defendant may submit written questions to you to be answered under oath and may ask you to provide documents. Your attorney will assist you in the preparation of these materials. You may also be called for a deposition, where the defendant's attorney will ask you a series of questions before a stenographer. Your attorney will help you prepare for the deposition and will attend the deposition with you. Your attorney will also object to any improper questions asked during the deposition. Your lawyer will also likely submit questions to the defendant, request documents from the defendant, and conduct the deposition of the defendant. Witnesses to the accident may also be called in for depositions, but this is not usually done in small cases.
If the case goes to trial, the plaintiff goes first and presents his or her witnesses, documents and any other evidence, which helps prove the plaintiff’s case. The defendant then puts on his or her witnesses, documents and any other evidence in defense. The case is then presented to the judge or jury, who decides who wins, and, if the plaintiff wins, the judge or jury decides how much money the plaintiff gets.
If I receive other benefits, such as health insurance as a result of the
accident, will I have to repay those benefits from my settlement?
Yes. Your health insurer can file a lien on your case, in which case you will be required to pay these liens from your settlement. Your attorney can help to negotiate these liens and most insurers will be reasonable in negotiating the liens.
How does the attorney get paid?
Most personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee
basis. That means that the attorney’s fees are contingent upon
his winning the case for you. If the attorney negotiates a settlement
or obtains a verdict in your favor he receives a percentage of the recovery.
In most cases the attorney will take between 25-40% of the recovery.
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What will it cost for an initial consultation to see if an attorney can
help me?
At Turnage, O'Neill & Mercer, PLLP we do not charge for
our initial consultation to evaluate your case and determine whether we
can assist you in recovering damages.
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