Insurance Companies and Car Accidents
Toronto car accident lawyers who fight for your rights
When you’ve been injured in a car accident, you will have to deal with an insurance company. Whether you are filing for accident benefits or seeking compensation from a negligent driver, an insurance company will ultimately decide how much money you will receive. The experienced car accident lawyers at Smitiuch Injury Law can help make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Some clients have the experience that insurance companies seem helpful in the early days of an accident claim. As time passes, however, insurance companies might become less accommodating to your needs. There’s a simple reason for that: They want to keep their profits as high as possible by paying you as little as possible.
There are different tactics that insurance companies use to pay you less. They may try to limit your compensation by:
Making you an offer – This doesn’t sound like it’s a bad thing. The insurance company may contact you soon after the accident. They’ll make you an offer to settle your claim. At this point, your medical expenses may be starting to add up, and you may not be able to work. So, a cheque from the insurance company will sound good, and they may promise quick payment. Their offer will fall far short of covering all of the damages you have suffered. They are just trying to save money by offering you less money.
Questioning the seriousness of your injuries – You know better than anyone what injuries you suffered in a car accident and how they are impacting your life. The insurance companies may say your injuries aren’t really all that bad. They will want you to be examined by a doctor of their choosing, one who is likely to see things their way.
Claiming you were injured before the accident – Insurance companies are responsible for medical expenses to treat injuries you suffered from a car accident, so they may argue that your injuries were pre-existing. They will seek access to your medical records to look for any evidence they can use to dispute your claim.
Blaming you for the accident – The insurance company may try to put at least some of the blame for the accident on you. For example, they may argue that you were 20 percent responsible for the crash. You would still be able to recover compensation, but under contributory negligence laws, any compensation that you were awarded by a jury would be reduced by 20 percent.
Our firm has been dealing with insurance companies since our founding in 2001. We know all of the tactics they use to try to limit your compensation. We know how to fight back to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Our lawyers get the facts and build strong cases that the insurance companies have to take seriously.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in the Greater Toronto Area, we are ready to help you with your case. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced car accident lawyers. Our offices are located in Toronto, Brantford and Simcoe. If you can’t come to us, we can meet you at a location that is more convenient, such as your home.
