After suffering a personal injury, you will usually seek payment from the at-fault party’s insurance company. Upon accepting your claim, the insurer will investigate your claim and offer compensation.
By settling a personal injury claim with an insurance company in Maryland, you agree to receive a certain sum of damages in exchange for your claim being resolved. However, not all settlement offers are fair. Insurance companies often attempt to settle claims for less than they are worth. A personal injury attorney can help fight for fair compensation in your case.
If you suffered a personal injury in Maryland, get help obtaining the payment you deserve. Get in touch with our experienced Maryland personal injury lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. Our attorneys can review your claim for free.
What is the Process for Settling a Personal Injury Claim with an Insurance Company in Maryland?
Settling a personal injury claim with an insurance company in Maryland can be a long and tiresome process. Our Baltimore personal injury lawyers can offer guidance and support through each of the following steps toward compensation:
Collect Evidence to Support Your Claim
The first step to settling a personal injury claim involves gathering evidence to support your case. Typically, you will have to collect information that shows your personal injury was caused by the at-fault party’s careless behavior.
For example, after a car accident, you may collect witness statements, surveillance footage, and physical evidence that shows the other driver is responsible for your crash. Our team can help gather evidence and prepare the information needed to file your claim with the at-fault party’s insurer.
File Your Claim with the At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company
The next step involves filing your claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Many insurance companies allow you to file your claim online. Other insurers will accept claims by phone or through the mail.
You should attempt to file your claim with the at-fault party’s insurer as soon as possible after your accident. Many insurance companies establish time limits for filing claims. Failure to file your claim on-time could cause you to miss out on payment.
After filing your claim, an insurance adjuster will be assigned to your case to investigate your accident. The adjuster should send you a Reservation of Rights (ROR) letter that acknowledges your claim has been accepted. This letter will also establish that the insurer is not yet accepting fault for your injuries.
Send a Demand Letter
After receiving your Reservation of Rights letter from the insurance adjuster, you will then be able to send a demand letter to the insurer. A demand letter will outline your claim for damages and demand compensation. In your letter, you should provide a detailed explanation as to how your accident happened. You should be sure to demonstrate why the insurer’s policyholder is at fault.
Furthermore, your demand letter should outline the injuries you suffered and quantify the amount of damages your incurred because of your injuries. The assistance of our Columbia personal injury lawyers can be highly beneficial when drafting your letter and calculating the amount of payment you are seeking.
Review the Insurance Company’s First Offer
After sending your demand letter, the insurance company will send a return offer after completing their initial investigation of your claim. Insurance adjusters may take as long as possible to respond your demand letter. This is a strategy used to test your patience, so you may be eager to accept the first offer they extend. Furthermore, insurance companies often attempt to settle cases for less than they are worth. This means that their first offers are often inadequate.
Insurance companies may use various tactics to attempt to reduce the value of your claim. They may state that you are asking for an inappropriate amount of damages related to the type of injury you incurred. Further, they may assert that you have not provided enough proof for the amount of damages you claim. Our experienced Dundalk personal injury lawyers can help evaluate the first settlement offer made in your case.
Make a Counteroffer
If your first settlement offer was inadequate, our attorneys can help prepare a counter offer of your own. Our Maryland personal injury lawyers can lean on years of experience when negotiating with insurance companies, so that you may receive a more appropriate settlement offer.
Still, many insurance companies refuse to accept victims’ counter offers. If your counter offer was rejected, you have the right to take legal action against the at-fault party and their insurance company. Our team can help when preparing your personal injury lawsuit.
Should You Notify Your Own Insurance Company of an Accident that Was Not Your Fault in Maryland?
After most accidents, injured parties may recover payment from the at-fault party’s insurance company. Still, it is important to notify your own insurer of your accident as well. Most insurance companies require policyholders to report accidents regardless of fault. For instance, after a car accident caused by another driver, you should still contact your car insurance company and let them know you were involved in a crash. Failing to notify your own insurance company of an accident could cause your rates to increase.
Furthermore, when notifying your own insurance company of an accident, they will likely ask you to provide a statement regarding how the accident occurred. When making your statement, it is important to avoid apologizing or otherwise admitting fault. Admissions of fault can be used against you when seeking payment for the injuries you suffered. Our experienced Ocean City personal injury lawyers can offer guidance and support when reporting your accident to your own insurance company.
If You Were Injured Because of Someone Else’s Negligent Actions in Maryland, Our Attorneys Can Help
If you suffered a personal injury in Maryland, seek assistance from our experienced Towson personal injury lawyers by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to review your case for free.