Kirk Bernard

If you have been injured in a Seattle car accident, you are probably counting on your insurance company to determine a fair value for your claim. If you have sustained injuries, you should receive the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to receive. However, that’s not how insurance companies think. They’re in this business to make money and maximize their profits. How do they accomplish that? By taking your insurance premiums and reducing the value of your claim or playing hardball when the time comes for you to collect compensation that is due.

This is when determining the value of an injury claim becomes extremely important. However, it is not easy. There are 8 main factors that go into determining the value of your accident claim, which include:

1. Accident circumstances – Who caused the accident? Whose fault was the accident? Your claim will also depend on the facts of the case that are backed up by the police report and eyewitness statements.
2. Injuries – What is the nature of your injuries: minor, moderate, major, catastrophic?
3. Medical treatment – What type of medical treatment did you require? Did you have to undergo surgery? Did you need continuing treatment such as physical therapy as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident?
4. Diagnostic test results – (CT scans, MRIs etc.)
5. Pre-existing conditions – Were the injuries sustained during the accident or as a result of pre-existing conditions, which were aggravated or made worse by the accident.
6. Did you have any previous accident or injuries – For example, if you slipped and fell at home and suffered a back injury a month ago and this new accident made those injuries worse, that could have an impact on your claim.
7. Property damage
8. Insurance coverage limits

Although these are some of the basic factors that go into determining the value of a claim, it’s not easy. The process can be complicated as every accident case is unique with its own set of circumstances. Don’t try to do it all yourself. The best and most effective way to assess your injury claim is to have a case evaluation with the experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers at The Bernard Law Group. We have extensive experience and the access to experts who have worked for insurance companies. These experts know all the tricks insurance adjusters have up their sleeves and the games they will play to reduce the value of your claim.

Please call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about Washington personal injury cases, which has useful educational information that will help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.