Does The Other Driver’s Insurance Company Matter In Determining How Much I Recover?
It’s now been several years ago, but, at a time a lawyer’s group now know as the American Association for Justice [and formerly known as “ATLA” or the Association of Trial Lawyers of America], put out a fascinating publication called the ’10 Worst Insurance Companies in America’. https://www.justice.org/news/allstate-ranks-worst-insurer-consumers Insurance companies are massive, and profitable. It’s probably... Read more »
How does My Lawyer Prove I was Injured in a Baltimore Car Accident?
Every injury victim in a litigated case has no doubt wondered: “How does My Lawyer Prove I was Injured in a Baltimore Car Accident? In another chapter, I discussed the ‘burden of proof’, i.e. what a Baltimore city personal injury trial lawyer must carry to prove that the defendant is responsible for the accident or... Read more »
Can An Insurance Company Deny My Claim and Say Their Driver was Not Negligent or At Fault ?
We discussed in another chapter that proof of a violation of law, ordinance or code can be presented, and may be considered as some evidence of negligence in a Baltimore personal injury case. However, unless the conduct that constituted the violation was also a negligent act that directly caused the injury, there is no responsibility.... Read more »
Compensation for A Baltimore Car Accident if No Insurance?
Can I collect Compensation for A Baltimore Car Accident if No Insurance? Personal injury lawyers in Baltimore know that an extraordinarily important factor, and often the singular factor, in assessing the value of a case is the existence of insurance coverage for the loss. Ask financial advisors and experts, Attorney Eric T. Kirk will tell... Read more »
The Insurance Company Denied My Claim. Do I Get A Refund?
We’ve explored in another guide what every Baltimore personal injury lawyer knows- insurance companies deny claims. Experienced personal injury lawyers in Baltimore know that it happens frequently. Consider a situation where your own insurance company –as opposed to the liability insurer of the other driver in a typical Baltimore automobile accident- denies your claim, As... Read more »
Does The Insurance Company Have To Have A Reason To Deny Or Fight My Claim?
Most Baltimore personal injury lawyers will tell you the practical answer is “No”, they don’t. The Maryland Insurance Code tells us it is unlawful for an insurer to deny a claim for “arbitrary” or “capricious” reasons. Unfortunately, one man’s caprice is may well be another man’s well-reasoned approach. Claims are denied- frequently. Unfortunately, we’re given... Read more »
The Insurance Company Says I Don’t Have PIP. How Does That Effect The Value of My Case?
Maryland law provides that personal injury is a coverage that you have it unless you say you don’t want it. Baltimore automobile accident victims sometimes find themselves faced with medical bills they for which they which believed they had personal injury protection coverage. A person may waive* their statutorily mandated PIP coverage, but, there are specific requirements:... Read more »
Are There Rules For Baltimore Insurance Claims Adjusters?
Many states and localities have enacted rules that govern what an insurance claims adjuster does, says, and how they act. Baltimore does not have a comprehensive set of rules for insurance claims adjusters. Maryland has chosen not to enact a specific training or experience requirements that govern claim adjusters. An ethical rule in effect in... Read more »
What is Insurance Policy Stacking?
We’ve discussed in other chapters that the availability of insurance, and the amount of that insurance is often the most important single factor in assessing the value of a case. If you can recover from more than one policy, your case has a greater value, or at least a greater possible maximum value. Stacking is... Read more »
When Do I Qualify for PIP benefits?
The availability of PIP benefits directly affects the value of a Baltimore automobile/car accident claim as the benefits, in part, cover medical expenses that would otherwise need to be paid from settlements of judgments. Passengers in these vehicles generally do not qualify. buses taxicabs and state-owned vehicles There may be exceptions that should be explored... Read more »
My PIP Insurance Carrier Denied My Claim or Won’t Pay My Medical Bills
Baltimore personal injury lawyers see this happen every day. The PIP law requires that insurance companies pay all “reasonable” and “necessary” medical expenses up to the policy limits for those that buy PIP insurance from them. The reality is insurance companies almost never pay the full amount of the medical bills they are sent. Insurers sometimes contest... Read more »
The Insurance Company Says The Value of My Case Must be Reduced to Present Value.
Baltimore personal injury lawyers would probably agree this is a complicated subject, well beyond the scope of these volumes. However, the concept plays a significant role in intelligently valuing any serious automobile accident or personal injury case, and evaluating the reasonableness of any settlement. Assume an accident victim sustains a serious injury, and will require medical care... Read more »
