finding a lawyer before you need one

Were you recently hurt in a car accident caused by another driver? If you are planning to file a claim with his or her insurance company, keep in mind that you will be required to show proof of your injuries in order to be compensated. In addition to your hospital bills and other medical expenses, you may also be seeking money for your pain and suffering. However, it is going to take some work on your part as well as your attorney's to prove that you should receive extra cash for pain and suffering. The following are some things you will have to keep in mind when gearing up for a big claim against an insurance company:

How Insurance Companies Determine Pain and Suffering

Contrary to popular belief, insurance companies do not calculate pain and suffering cases by using a formula or other standardized procedures. Since the circumstances of car accidents vary so much from claim to claim, insurance companies resolve individual claims on a case-by-case basis. They carefully examine all evidence to ensure they make a decision based solely off that information.

The Amount of Money You Are Entitled To

In most cases, the longer you are recovering from your injuries from a car accident, the more money you will receive. Keep in mind that you will have to provide substantial evidence to the insurance agency to prove you were truly unable to work or function as you would prior to the accident. If you did not seek medical attention for your injuries but are unable to walk or work for a long period of time, the insurer is not going to think that you are deserving of a significant amount of money since you cannot show major medical expenses. Your claim could even be denied.

Visible injuries, such as broken bones or any form of disfigurement can demonstrate your pain and suffering. Soft muscle tissue injuries such as lumbar sprains or cervical injuries are not as obvious, but can help you get a larger sum of money if you have the appropriate documentation of your medical care.

Types of Evidence Required By Insurance Companies

In order to prove your case for pain and suffering, you and your attorney will need to gather a variety of evidence. You will need all copies of your medical bills, medical reports, photos of visible injuries, photos of your vehicle if you were driving one at the time of the accident, time cards or other evidence that proves you were away from work, costs for your prescriptions, and anything else pertaining to your injury. It is advisable to get a large accordion folder with files for all of your paperwork so that it can be kept together and submitted to the insurance company.

Getting money for your pain and suffering can be a long and exhausting process. This is due to the time the insurance company needs to go through all of your evidence. Work closely with your attorney, like one from Knochel Law Offices,to help expedite the process so that you can potentially get your settlement more quickly.