In the first post discussing the process of injury claims, we discussed the treatment phase. In this edition we conclude the treatment phase by looking into disclosure of injuries to insurance companies.
Talking to Insurance Companies About Your Injuries
You have to be careful talking to both your own insurer, any extended health insurer, and of course the other driver’s insurer. All insurance companies protect their own interests including yours. Their business is to make as much money as possible for their shareholders. The way they do this is by bringing in as many premiums as possible and paying out as little as possible. Your injury claim is an expense on their balance sheet. Even though you may be talking to your own insurer or your own extended health insurer, do not expect them to look after your best interests. This is why it is so important to obtain legal advice as early on as possible. A lawyer should be able to step in to protect you from not only the other driver’s insurer, but also from your own insurer and your extended health insurer. A lawyer should be able to give you advice so that you maximize whatever benefits you are entitled to obtain from your own insurer and your extended health insurer. Even though you’re not specifically hiring a lawyer to deal with your own insurer and your extended health insurer, your injury lawyer (who you are hiring to deal with the other driver’s insurer) will be able to give you some guidance on dealing with your own insurer and your extended health insurer.
When you come for an initial meeting at our office, we provide basic information on obtaining health benefits from your own insurer and discuss any extended health insurance that you may have as well. This is to provide needed guidance to make sure that you are “educating” your treating physician and any other treatment providers you may see. Remember, your lawyer acts as a buffer between yourself and the other driver’s insurer.
Your lawyer should also be able to say to you at the end of that first meeting “go away and get better, I’ll deal with everything else”.