Safely Serving Our Clients: We are open & available to assist existing & potential clients with their legal matter via phone or video conference.
3127 Whitney Avenue | Hamden, Connecticut 06518
When you're involved in an automobile accident and suffer injuries, one of the first steps you may need to take is filing an injury claim with your insurance company or the at-fault driver's insurer. The process of determining how much your injury claim is worth is complex, and it often involves a number of factors. Insurance adjusters are responsible for evaluating your claim, but their primary goal is to minimize the insurer's financial exposure. This means they often undervalue claims, offering settlements that may not fully compensate you for your losses.
Insurance adjusters consider several key indicators when assessing the value of your automobile injury claim. These factors include:
Medical expenses — One of the most significant components of your claim is the cost of medical treatment. Adjusters will review your medical bills, including emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment needs. However, insurers may attempt to challenge the necessity or reasonableness of some treatments to reduce the payout.
Lost wages — If your injuries have caused you to miss work, either temporarily or permanently, the adjuster will evaluate your lost wages. This includes both the time you’ve already missed and any potential future income loss if you are unable to return to work or can only return in a reduced capacity.
Property damage — The cost to repair or replace your vehicle is another factor in the overall claim. Adjusters often use standardized formulas to estimate the damage, which may not always reflect the true cost of repair or replacement.
Pain and suffering — Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering are more subjective and harder to quantify. Adjusters may use multipliers based on your medical expenses to estimate this value, but they often apply lower multipliers to reduce the payout. This is an area where claims are frequently undervalued by insurers.
Comparative fault — If the insurer believes you were partially at fault for the accident, they may reduce your compensation accordingly. For example, if they determine you were 20 percent at fault, they may reduce your claim by that percentage.
Given that insurers routinely undervalue claims, it's vital to consult with an experienced automobile injury lawyer before accepting any offer. A lawyer can help gather and present compelling evidence to support your claim. This includes collecting comprehensive medical records, obtaining testimony from expert witnesses, and thoroughly documenting both economic damages (like medical bills and lost wages) and noneconomic damages (like pain and suffering). Your lawyer will negotiate on your behalf, countering the insurance adjuster’s initial offer with a more accurate assessment of your claim’s value. If necessary, they can take your case to court to ensure you receive fair compensation.
Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. in Hamden and East Haven advocates on behalf of injured victims of Connecticut automobile accidents. To discuss your case, please call 203-745-0942 or contact us online.
Thank you. Your submission has been sent.
Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. is located in Hamden, CT and serves clients in and around North Haven, Hamden, Waterbury, Bethany, Milford, Wallingford, Prospect, Woodbridge, Northford, Madison, Beacon Falls, Branford, Cheshire, North Branford, East Haven, Naugatuck, Meriden, Ansonia and New Haven County.
Attorney Advertising. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. [ Site Map ]
See our profiles at Lawyers.com and Martindale.com
Martindale-Hubbell and martindale.com are registered trademarks; AV, BV, AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are registered certification marks; Lawyers.com and the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated Icon are service marks; and Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are trademarks of MH Sub I, LLC, used under license. Other products and services may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC. All rights reserved.