How To Win Your Personal Injury Claim

by Matthews, Joseph L.

• ISBN13: 9781413300819
• ISBN10: 1413300812
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-01
• Publisher: Nolo

Summary

Armed with the right information, anyone can handle a personal injury claim without a lawyer. Attorney Joseph Matthews provides strategies for handling every stage of the insurance claim process including how to:- protect one's rights after an accident- evaluate what a claim is worth- handle a property damage claim- avoid insurance company run-arounds- obtain a full and fair settlement- save thousands in attorney fees

Author Biography

Joseph Matthews, an attorney since 1971

Table of Contents

Introduction Who Can Use This Book?
What Kinds of Claims Can You Handle Yourself?	2	(1)
How to Use This Book	3
Handling Your Personal Injury Claim
Why You Often Can Handle Your Own Claim	2	(3)
When You Might Need a Lawyer	5
Whose Fault Is It? How Legal Responsibility Is Determined
Basic Rules of Legal Responsibility	2	(7)
Liability in Specific Types of Accidents	9
Initial Steps in Settling Your Claim
The First 72 Hours: Protecting Your Rights	2	(7)
Getting a Claim Started	9	(10)
Special Rules for Accidents Involving the Government	19
Understanding Insurance Coverage
Motor Vehicle Insurance	2	(15)
Nonvehicle Liability Insurance	17	(3)
Your Own Health Coverage and Accident Claims	20	(2)
No-Fault Laws: State Summaries	22
How Much Is Your Claim for Injuries Worth?
The Damages Formula	3	(2)
How Injuries Affect Compensation	5	(5)
Demonstrating Pain and Suffering	10	(6)
Lost Income	16	(1)
Property Damage	16	(1)
Arriving at a Final Compensation Value	17	(3)
Examples of How Much Different Claims Are Worth	20
Processing Your Claim
Collecting Information	6/2	(1)
Preparing a Demand Letter	6/14	(1)
Sample Demand Letters	6/22	(1)
Property Damage Claims
What Type of Claim to File	7/2	(1)
Amount of Compensation	7/6	(1)
Processing Your Claim	7/7	(1)
Negotiating a Settlement Amount	7/10	(2)
Negotiating a Settlement
Adjusters: Who They Are and How They Work	2	(2)
How the Negotiation Process Works	4	(16)
What to Do When You Can't Get a Settlement	20	(8)
State Departments of Insurance	28	(5)
State Statutes of Limitations	33
Finalizing Your Settlement
Confirming the Offer and Acceptance	2	(1)
Formal Settlement Document	2	(3)
What to Do If the Check Doesn't Arrive	5	(1)
Liens on Your Settlement Money	6	(2)
Taxes on Your Settlement Money	8
The Last Resorts: Lawyers, Arbitration, and Courts
Small Claims Court	2	(10)
Arbitration	12
Working With a Lawyer
Reasons to Use a Lawyer	2	(2)
Finding the Right Lawyer	4	(4)
Paying the Lawyer	8	(4)
Managing Your Lawyer	12	(3)
Trial	15
Appendix Accident Claim Worksheet
Index