Appealing to the Jury

Your Decatur personal injury attorney knows that a claims representative will want to know if a claimant is wealthy or of some means. Since juries typically dislike such individuals and do not award them large settlements, information of this type may be advantageous to a claims representative.

Hardship

If a claimant is unemployed or has a low income, your Decatur personal injury attorney knows a claims representative will want to ascertain this information, since claimants with an immediate need for money typically accept lower settlements.

Insurance Company Internal Policy

Your Decatur personal injury attorney will advise that a claims representative may inform a claimant that damages of a certain type are not considered due to the company’s internal policies, even though such action usually violates good faith practices. Damages that an insurance company may claim it does not cover include:

• Long distance call expenses.
• Transportation expenses incurred to and from physician’s offices, as well as other travel costs relating directly to the claim.
• Lost wages due to the following: obtaining vehicle damage estimates, transporting the vehicle to the body shop to be repaired, and picking up the vehicle once it is repaired.
• Court costs for minor children represented by attorneys. The costs incurred in getting a minor’s compromise that solely benefits the insurer is the insurance company’s responsibility and should not be transferred to the children and their Decatur personal injury lawyer.

As a Decatur personal injury attorney can explain, ll of these costs are proximate cause damages which the insurance company should be responsible for.

Terminal Illness

A claimant’s health may be investigated by a claims representative to determine if the claimant suffers from a terminal illness and if the claimant may not live through a long litigation process. Generally, damages for pain and suffering brought by any Decatur personal injury lawyer die with the claimant, and cannot be subsequently claimed by an heir.

Contact a Decatur Personal Injury Lawyer

A Decatur personal injury attorney can help you understand and counter any lowballing techniques a claims representative may use in your case. Please contact the law offices of McCarthy Rowden & Baker to schedule a free consultation. Call 800-373-6050 today.