Why Won’t Insurance Companies Cover Lost Wages, Medical Bills, Other Costs After an Accident?
- November 18, 2019
- Sandy
Have you or a loved one been hurt in an accident caused by the negligent actions of another and their insurance company is not cooperating?
We’ve all seen the auto insurance company commercials that promise they’ll take care of you after an accident. However, as experienced Los Angeles car accident attorneys, we’ve seen the dark side of the auto insurance industry. This is why our law firm has hired our own team of investigators and consultants, and our best car accident lawyers in LA understand the strategies and techniques used by many insurance companies to reduce payouts.
Insurance Companies Are “For Profit” Corporations With Shareholders
One of the most common misconceptions the public has about insurance companies is that insurance companies are warm, friendly companies who want to pay an accident claimant all of the money they deserve. Unfortunately, there are situations when accident victims don’t know all of the avenues in which they could recover additional money from the car insurance companies.
An accident claimant is someone who’s filing a claim for reimbursement for property damage, medical expenses, rental car costs, and any other costs associated with the car crash. A claimant will usually file a claim with the at-fault party’s car insurance company, but may also file a claim with their own auto insurance company in certain situations.
Insurance companies are large corporations with stock shareholders. So, each shareholder owns a piece of the company. The value of their stock share is determined by the value of the company and the profitability of the company. With pressures to make these insurance companies more profitable, their decision-makers typically increase the number of customers paying monthly premiums while cutting costs in other areas.
This means insurance company profits increase when insurance companies deny, delay or reduce the value of your claim. Many insurance company adjusters are highly trained negotiators who are given performance bonuses based on the amount of money they save the insurance company by denying, delaying or reducing claim payouts.
Delaying More Sometimes Means Paying Less
One of the most common tactics used by insurance companies is delaying your claim payout. Insurance companies have learned the best way to reduce costs on a claim is to delay payment. When the insurance company delays payment on a claim, this puts a lot of financial stress on the accident victim and their family. After all, it’s the accident victim who’s required to pay a significant amount of costs associated with a car crash. Some of these costs include:
- Medical bills
- Lost Wages at Work
- Car Repair Costs
- Transportation Costs
- Medical treatments
- And More…
The hospital isn’t calling the insurance company looking for payment on medical bills. They’re calling you!
The insurance company knows this and they hope that this financial pressure will force you to accept a fast check that’s less money than you truly deserve. Most people have no idea how much their case is really worth or how to protect their legal rights.
What Forms of Compensation Could Your Recover After an Accident?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, there could be several avenues in which you could get monetary compensation. The facts and circumstances of your unique situation will determine what forms of “damages” you may be able to receive. “Damages” are the types of compensation that you could receive to compensate you for your losses. Only an experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney would be able to review the facts of your case and insurance coverage to determine what you could recover if you win your accident injury case.
The following are some of the different damages that may be recoverable in your case:
• Property Damage – Loss of the use of property or costs associated with repairs or replacement.
• Rental Car Costs
• Past, Present and Future Medical Expenses
• Loss of Employment
• Lost Wages or Earnings
Non-Economic Damages may also be recoverable. These include:
• Mental Distress or Suffering
• Pain and Suffering
• Injury to Reputation
• Inconvenience
• Loss of Companionship or Consortium
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact The Barnes Firm to understand what monetary damages you may be entitled to receive. We can put our best car accident lawyer in Los Angeles on your case to help you determine the right course of action for your specific circumstances. Contact us online or call us 24/7 for a free consultation.
The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000
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