I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for someone having been involved in an accident to receive the necessary medical treatment as quickly as possible. I have received many telephone calls from individuals who have been involved in automobile accidents and are trying to enlist the services of an attorney after they have not been able to settle their claim with the insurance adjuster. Not too surprisingly, little or no medical treatment has usually been obtained by the individual. Insurance companies offer little or nothing for claims where medical treatment was not obtained. The law does provide that someone causing an accident is obliged to not only pay for medical treatment and injuries, but they are also obliged to pay for inconvenience and related costs. Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not view inconvenience as having any value at all. Those same individuals calling and asking for help usually tell me that they have held off going to see a doctor because either they have been too busy, or they do not have insurance. However, they assure me that they are still hurting. It is with regret that I have to tell these callers that I am not able to assist them.
If you think about it, if you are really hurting from an accident you will seek medical attention. The emergency rooms in California do not refuse treatment to anyone. If you are hurting enough, and don’t have medical insurance, you will go to the emergency room for treatment. Most probably you will also follow-up later on for treatment if necessary.
If you have been involved in an accident and have sustained serious injuries you need to obtain medical treatment immediately. Make sure you tell the attending doctors and nurses about all of your complaints. If you focus on one of the more serious areas that are hurting it will be assumed that the other areas don’t exist. The insurance companies will obtain copies of all of your medical records at some point in time and review those very carefully for what complaints you were making at the time that you were first treated. Insurance companies make a big deal of any inconsistencies that they see in these records and what they understand your injuries to be. Make sure that you complain about all of the body parts that have been injured. Make sure that you repeat these complaints to the nurses or therapists who treat you. Usually medical records are made by not only the doctors, but also the nurses and the therapists. I do not recommend waiting thirty or sixty days to contact an attorney after you have been involved in an accident. I recommend that you contact them right after you obtain the initial medical treatment needed to stabilize your medical condition. Don’t give any statements to any insurance people without first contacting your attorney. As soon as you have obtained the services of an attorney advise all of the insurance companies of this.
If you have been involved in an accident the personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson are here for you. If you live in Placentia, Yorba Linda, Brea, Anaheim, Fullerton, or the surrounding area, contact one of the attorneys at the Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson for a confidential and free evaluation of your claim.
You’re Injured, Now What?
A monthly update to keep you informed on how to handle personal injury situations.
HAVING THE RIGHT TYPE OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE IS IMPORTANT
Having adequate automobile insurance is critical. California requires a minimal policy for liability insurance of $15,000.00 for a single claim and at least $30,000.00 for multiple claims. However, some of the most important parts of automobile insurance are not mandated by California law. They are optional. The uninsured/underinsured motorist portion of automobile insurance is optional. This is the insurance that pays out to the insured in the event that the other driver is either uninsured, or underinsured. We suggest that at a minimum the uninsured/underinsured motorist is at least at the same level as the liability insurance portion. One other aspect of automobile insurance that is often overlooked is the portion that provides for medical pay. This is the part of the policy that will reimburse you directly for out-of-pocket medical expenditures. Usually all that is required from your insurance policy is for you to provide copies of the receipts for which you have paid. The other requirement is that the payments relate to medical care caused by an automobile accident. The medical pay portion of your automobile insurance can be very helpful in minimizing the financial burden sometimes caused by medical payments for injuries arising out of an automobile accident. Medical pay policies can range from Two Thousand Dollars on up to One Million Dollars. While a policy for One Million Dollars is probably not needed for medical pay, a policy up to Fifty Thousand Dollars or more may be very helpful.
If you have any questions about having adequate automobile insurance, give The Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson a call for a free consultation. If you are involved in an automobile accident and want to know what your rights are under your existing automobile policy check with the personal injury experts at the Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson. We are the personal injury experts serving the communities of Placentia, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Brea, Tustin, and Anaheim.
Most people think that when they hire a Personal Injury Attorney they actually get an attorney to work for them. Usually that is partially true. I say that it is partially true because some law firms very much limit what the attorney’s will do for personal injury clients. After the initial introduction with a client some firms will use a “Claims Administrator” or other individual to handle the file to a conclusion. In fact, many times it is that same individual who actually settles the claim. The attorney’s involvement is usually limited to the first introduction with the client. That may very well be the last time that the attorney either talks to or sees his client again. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to know how a law firm handles their cases before hiring them. The Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson the personal injury attorney’s keeps contact with their clients throughout the pendency of the claim. While secretaries, paralegals, and law clerks are used to assist with the file, the attorney’s are always available to discuss your case. The attorney’s handle the negotiations for settlement. The personal injury attorney’s at the Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson enjoy their work and are available to discuss pending claims with their clients. If you live in Placentia, Yorba Linda, Brea, Anaheim, Fullerton, or surrounding area, contact one of the attorney’s at the Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson for a confidential and free evaluation of your claim.
It is absolutely critical for individuals who are injured and looking for attorneys to look for credible and reputable counsel. If you have been hurt it is important to always tell your treating doctors the truth. It is also important to seek out the doctors who have the best expertise to treat the injury which you have. Usually it is best to receive a referral to a specialist from your family doctor. Find out what you can about the specialist that you are being referred to. It is important that you receive medical care for your personal injury from very competent and credible doctors. Usually Chiropractors are not the first doctor that an injured individual should go to after an accident. If you have already sought out credible and competent legal representation they will assist you in finding the best medical treatment possible. Be cautious of any attorneys who do not want you to use your group medical insurance and instead wish to refer you to their Chiropractor who will provide treatment on a lien basis. Usually the charges are excessive. The treatment may or may not even address the injuries which you have sustained. Usually the insurance companies view this type of care as being litigation driven and questionable. Doctors who are not credible severely damage the dollar value of what would otherwise be a very legitimate claim. If your attorney or any medical provider suggests being anything other than totally credible you need to see someone else. If you are looking for professional, competent representation, from ethical attorneys, look to The Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson for your legal representation. The attorneys who are part of The Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson abide by the highest ethical standards and view credibility not as an option, but as a requirement. Look to the personal injury attorneys of The Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson to assist with your personal injury claim. The Law Offices of Kennith L. Peterson serves the communities of Placentia, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Brea, Tustin, and Anaheim.