Each insurance company has its own methods and procedures in regards to applying a monetary value on your accident claim. However, there are common factors that remain constant no matter what. So what do insurance claims adjusters look at? In most cases, the insurance company takes into account the amount of property damage, any injury or loss suffered by the policy holder, and the costs of medical treatment for any injuries suffered.
Calculating Medical Expenses
These expenses are typically calculated separately from any property loss or damages, as their cost is usually documented and itemized exactly. Injuries are, in most cases, ranked by the severity of the injury and what the effects are. For example:
- Long term injuries are viewed differently from short-term injuries.
- An injury that requires an emergency room visit will be valued higher than an injury that simply requires an examination by a doctor before release from care.
Because of these types of factors, an injury that requires long-term care will always command a higher recovery amount than one that is easily treated.
Types of Injuries
Insurance companies generally classify injuries into separate columns. Payment for these two different types of injuries varies greatly, due to the nature of the classifications. The two most common classifications for most insurance companies are:
- An injury that results in pain. This means any injury in which there is no long-term care needed, or which will simply be treated and heal on its own. It’s very important to let the doctor know of ANY pain you are suffering, because internal pains can turn into serious issues with time.
- The second classification is usually an injury that results in the loss of function of any or all extremities. This can also include an injury that results in the limitation or impedance of the victim’s level of functioning ability in everyday tasks. Your doctor will be able to determine these types of injuries, but only if symptoms are reported.
It’s All in the Details
In any case of personal injury due to an automobile accident, it’s imperative that every detail of any pain or symptoms you may be suffering be reported to your doctor. This is a matter of injury codes, for every pain or symptom you report may be a condition of a different injury, and the insurance company evaluates the documentation regarding your injury very closely. For every injury code documented in the doctor’s reports, the insurance company increases the value of your claim.
Getting Help
If you are involved in an automobile accident, whether the responsibility is yours or the other party’s, you should consult a personal injury attorney to help you navigate the legal process of the claim system. Your lawyer can help you document your injuries, assess the value of your claim, review settlement offers, and determine if it is in your best interests to sue or settle out of court.
