First Party Insurance Claims
A first party Insurance claim is a claim that an insured files with their own automobile insurance company. If you file an insurance claim with your own automobile insurance company, you should be aware of some of the requirements imposed on claimants. Of course, every insurance company and policy are distinct but there are still some common points that you are likely to deal with when filing a first party insurance claim. Here’s a brief overview:
Timely Notice of Claim: It is important to make note of any deadlines sent by your insurance policy as a pertains to notification of a new insurance claim if you believe that you have missed this deadline, you may still be able to go through with your claim as long as your insurance company was not prejudiced or harmed by the late notice.
Medical Authorizations: Many policies require claimants to sign a medical authorization form. A medical authorization form allows your insurance company to obtain your medical records on your behalf. Before signing a release, make sure you obtain your policy and make sure your policy requires it to be signed or obtained. If you are unsure, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help explain this in better detail.
Independent Medical Exams: If your insurance company request an independent medical examination, try to determine why before agreeing to attend one. If you absolutely must attend the independent medical examination, try to make sure your insurance company offers to pay for it since they are requesting it in the first place. Also, make sure you read your insurance policy to see if it discusses IMEs. Overall, make sure the IME will only cover the injuries you are claiming as part of the claim and not turn into a general medical examination.
Our Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help!
Overall, if you decide to authorize your insured to access your medical records make sure you fully understand the scope of the authorization. On the other hand, if your claim is at a standstill due to a disagreement with your insurance rider over submitting to a medical exam or signing a medical authorization, we can be of assistance to you! Having experienced car accident lawyers fighting for you can mean the difference between winning top dollar for your claim and receiving no compensation at all. You may be wondering how exactly is it that a personal injury attorney can assist you with your claim. Well, a car accident lawyer can help you in many ways. The first thing a car accident attorney can do is review your accident claim and evaluate your claim to see if it is compensable. This is done during an initial consultation or first meeting. Having an experienced attorney look at your case can be of tremendous value. If your case is compensable, an attorney will either send an initial settlement demand letter or file a complaint depending on what stage of the personal injury process your case is at. Once a case is filed, the discovery phase of your case begins. In the discovery phase, we will obtain many pieces of evidence. For example, we obtain witness testimony, medical records and bills, police reports, and any other information that is necessary to get a full understanding of your case. Another aspect of the discovery process is the possibility of initiating negotiations with the opposing side to resolve the claim. In some cases, a mediator may be called in to try to help both sides achieve an agreeable settlement. If a settlement cannot be obtained, the next step will be to prepare to take your case to court, where it will usually be tried in front of a jury. Our attorneys are ready to provide proven legal representation and stand ready to protect your rights. We are available 24/7 to give you a free, no risk case consultation!
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.
