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Traffic Accident Insurance Claims Article
By Dan Baldyga
In January of 2005 it was written (within the
confines of The Insurance Journal), “In 2003 more than
25% of automobile accidents resulted in bodily injury claim”.
And, in a 2004 study (executed via Trends In Auto Injury Claims)
it was stated, “Personal injury claims remain high”.
Records indicate that many people involved in
automobile accidents, are embarrassed to seek medical attention
because of what they’ve determine to be bumps and bruises,
and they didn’t seem serious enough or because the onset
of the symptoms did not immediately occur.
HOWEVER: Just as soon as possible, after an
accident, an initial evaluation at a local Emergency Room
is positively recommended!
THE REASON FOR THAT IS: X-rays can be performed
which will generally rule out broken bones or factures. PLUS:
Muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications can immediately
be prescribed so as to address muscle strains and/or pulls.
If the onset of a serious injury is delayed,
the failure to have a medical complaint recorded will affect
your physical recovery. Back and neck injuries (like a herniated
disc) are not always immediately determinable. They are often
initially diagnosed as “Soft Tissue” injuries
before an MRI or a CT Scan reveals a disc injury. Normal x-ray
film - - cannot diagnose a disc injury!
HERE’S SOME FACT’S OF INSURANCE
CLAIM LIFE BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE - - WHO WAS INVOLVED
IN SUCH MATTERS FOR OVER THREE DECADES! If the adjuster can
prove it (and then attempt to hang his hat on the reason “Why”
he’s refusing to pay a personal injury claim) he’ll
often take the position of, “It’s because there’s
been a long and serious delay in receiving treatment”.
Or, “Too many time-gaps in the treatment have occurred”.
Ending either one of those conclusions with, “So therefore
it’s clear that the impact had absolutely nothing to
do what the claimant was later complaining of and being treated
for”.
“WHIPLASH”
Whiplash hurls your head backward (causing
Hyper-Extension) and forward (causing Hyper-Flexion) the both
of which will absolutely injure your neck. Whiplash has been
determined to be the most common injury resulting from a car
accident. It can cause injury to joints, discs, ligaments,
cervical muscles and nerves.
A Whiplash can be short term or long life! Why?
Because it can leave your neck forever vulnerable to injury.
It leads to a long-term disability in 10% of those 1,000,000
people who have been “Whip-Lashed” (because of
a motor vehicle accident in the United States) every year
! Records indicate that nearly 25% of those cases result in
chronic pain and disability for an individual’s lifetime.
After a Whiplash injury your neck’s natural
curve may be reversed, which can unevenly distribute the weight
of your head and may furthermore misalign the vertebra. This
can lead to arthritic degeneration and recurring pain.
It’s a proven fact that 1 in 7 whiplash
victims will still have significant pain more than 3 years
after the accident!
According to research published in late 2004
“MOST CAR SEATS FAIL THE WHIPLASH TEST”.
It was determined that almost two thirds (of what are advertised
as “Normal” car seats) left motorists vulnerable
to painful whiplash injuries. Of all the models tested 18
were rated as “Good”, 27 were rated as “Acceptable”
. HOWEVER: All the others were rated either “Marginal”
or “Poor”.
In a 2004 edition the National Association Of
Mutual Insurance Companies stated that, “From 1980 to
2003, the Bodily Injury Claim rate increased by 19%”.
They went on to say, “There were 1.05 Personal Injury
claims per 100 insured cars”.
YOU MUST “WATCH OUT” FOR
THE OTHER DRIVERS ADJUSTER
You’ve got to be wary of the insurance
adjuster contacting you, requesting a statement so he can,
“Settle your claim”.
In most instances the only reason the adjuster
from the other insurance company wants your statement is so
to determine if he can build a defense against your claim
or make his payment to you, as low as possible. Adjusters
contact you (under the pretext of helping you to settle your
claim) and then attempt to use the information they’ve
obtained - - to minimize or deny your claim.
Unless the Police Report clearly places the
fault on the other driver you must be very careful how you
“Handle” and/or “Deal” with the adjuster
assigned to your case because the adjuster is paid, and moved
up the claims ladder, partly because of what he knows, and
learned on-the-job, about insurance claims, but mostly because
of how profoundly he’s capable of taking advantage of
those who have a legitimate one.
>> Return
to traffic accident insurance claims articles
DISCLAIMER:
The purpose of this article "CAR
ACCIDENT CLAIMS" is for all readers to understand the
motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga,
Scott Baker, I GOT HIT, LLC, and/or the Accident Resource
make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever, NOR do they purport
to engage in rendering any professional or legal service;
NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or
claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help
is desired it is THE INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSIBILITY to
obtain said services.
Dan Baldyga’s third and latest book,
AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate
And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com
or http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com.
This book reveals “How To” handle your property
damage claim so you won’t be taken advantage of. It
also goes into detail regarding BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident
Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA explains
how to determine the value of the “Pain and Suffering”
you endured - - because of your personal injury!
Copyright (c) 2005 By Daniel G. Baldyga.
All Rights Reserved.
Dan Baldyga - Author
dbpaw@comcast.net
AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM
(How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss)
http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com
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