Insurance companies are for-profit companies, meaning their loyalty lies not with the accident victims, but with their stockholders. Many do not know this lesser-known fact that more profits are made by settling claims cheaply than by recruiting customers to pay premiums.  This is because that every dollar saved on your claim is one hundred percent profit. Many who take on the insurance companies alone get less than what is just compensation because of being forced to settle. Using an attorney can help you gain fair compensation and protect your interests.

Here are some tips to handle the insurance company claims process.

• Don’t fall for your insurance adjustor’s “nice guy” act.
• Remember that your words can be used against you.
• Be wary of making recorded statements.
• Do not grant access to past records.
• Be wary of delayed payments.

If you have been injured in an accident, you should consider hiring a lawyer to make sure you are not taken advantage of. Our Toledo, Ohio personal injury attorneys will be your advocates in making sure you receive everything you’re entitled to.

• In a dog-bite case, the victim doesn’t need to show that the owner or keeper of the dog had a duty or responsibility.
• The harborer of a dog is strictly liable for all injuries or damages to property caused by the dog.
• The injured party needs to show that the dog bite based injuries and compensation should be awarded
• Defense for dog owners: If the victim was criminally trespassing or attempting to trespass, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.
• Landlords are generally not liable for bites on rental property.

 
If you are a victim of a dog bite it is important to consult an attorney who knows how to navigate the legal process. Our Toledo, Ohio dog bite lawyers will work with you to achieve the best settlement and to make sure you’re fairly compensated for your injury.

If you hire a lawyer, he or she has a few options when trying to resolve your case. He or she can file lawsuits immediately, which has the benefit of putting you quickly on a trial track. The other path an attorney can take is negotiating with the insurance adjustor to resolve the case without having to file a lawsuit. Most attorneys, including those in our office, prefer the second approach.

Lawsuits are time-consuming, expensive, and unpredictable. Settling claims with the adjustor can get he client compensated sooner and has certain outcomes. Filing suits should only be done if the adjustor makes an unfair offer that isn’t going to get better or if the statue of limitations is about to expire.

Even with working with an adjustor, you shouldn’t expect a quick settlement. It is best for the client to follow a doctor’s treatment plan rather than settling prematurely. This benefits the client’s health and his or her case. Ultimately, the settle or verdict will be based to some degree on the cost and length of the treatment received.

If you have suffered an injury in an accident, do not hesitate to contact our Ohio personal injury lawyers for help in navigating the complicated legal process.

• Temporary Total Disability

Temporary total disability helps replace wages lost for those who are unable to work for a certain period of time. The injured worker must miss eight consecutive days in order to qualify for temporary total disability. For the first 12 weeks of disability, injured workers receiving temporary total disability are compensated at 72 percent of their full weekly wage. After three months, a claimant receives 66 2/3 his average weekly wage. Although temporary total disability does not completely replace a worker’s lost income, Workers’ Compensation benefits are not taxable.

• Permanent Partial Disability

Sometimes workers sustain physical or psychological injuries that will remain with them forever, but may allow them to continue working. In such cases, the worker would be eligible for a permanent partial disability award based on the percentage of the impairment. The waiting period to file this type of claim after injury is 26 weeks.

In order to determine the percentage of loss, the worker is examined by a BWC doctor, who determines the percentage of impairment of the body part in question based in the American Medical Association’s Guides to Evaluations of Permanent Impairment. If the injured worker thinks the percentage is too low, his own doctor can examine him. The hearing officer then examines the findings by the doctors and determines the percentage of impairment. The percentage is the basis of any compensation the worker should receive.

• Permanent Total Disability

Someone who is injured so seriously on the job that he’ll never be able to gain sustained employment is eligible for permanent total disability benefits. Compensation for this type of award takes into account the statewide weekly wage average and whether the injured worker receives Social Security benefits. If the hearing officer grants the application for permanent total disability, the injured worker can receive compensation for life.

If you have been injured on the job, contact an Ohio worker’s compensation attorney to be sure you are rewarded the full settlement you deserve.

• Review your deposition transcript and interrogatory answers.
• Do not mention insurance.
• Dress appropriately.
• Review your medical history.
• Never overestimate or exaggerate.
• Be courteous and respectful to everyone, including the defense attorney.
• Don’t lose control.
• Don’t anticipate.
• Look at the jurors.
• Speak clearly.
• Do not look at your lawyer for answers.
• Act naturally.
• Tell the truth.

Consult an experienced Ohio personal injury attorney for assistance in every step of the legal process, including preparing for testimony.