Have You Been Injured in an Accident With a Hartford Insured?
Many insurance companies specialize in insuring certain groups. For example, they may sell policies specifically to active military, veterans, and their families. Or they may try to market to drivers over a certain age. This business model may provide added benefits to the target customer base. This can make their company an attractive option for people looking to insure their property or vehicles. Read on to learn why that might not be the best idea, from our experienced Harford insurance claims lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C.
The Hartford’s insurance is designed to provide protection for drivers older than 50. The carrier offers numerous advantages for the people who choose to use it. There can be decreasing deductibles for those who are involved in accidents, 24/7 claims service, and even compensation for home modifications that have to be made after an accident.
While the benefits may seem attractive, they do not necessarily mean that the Hartford offers more complete coverage, or that its claims process is any easier to navigate. It is not unusual for any type of insurance company to delay or deny the claims of accident victims—even one like the Hartford, which grossed almost $17 billion in 2017. However, handling claims may reach a more favorable conclusion with a lawyer by your side.
If you sustain injuries in an accident and are now fighting with an insurance company, contact the
Chicago insurance claims lawyers at Abels & Annes and learn if we can help you.
What Are Our Results Handling Insurance Claims?
A lot of bad accidents take place every year in Chicago.
In 2015, 119 died and 21,667 were injured in 90,396 accidents in the Windy City.
The lawyers at Abels & Annes have extensive experience working on accident claims with insurance companies like The Hartford. We know how to negotiate with insurance companies. We work to ensure that our clients get the best possible settlement for their injuries.
All potential claims depend on the specific facts of the accident. For example, who is at fault, the severity of injuries, and the long-term consequences. Our law firm is responsible for many
settlements in excess of $1 million for our clients. While past results are not a guarantee of future outcomes, our record exemplifies our commitment to work tirelessly on behalf of those we represent. For example, not long ago we secured $100,000 for a client who sustained road rash in a motorcycle accident and $300,000 for a client involved in a Chicago area pedestrian accident. Both of these cases were insurance policy limits settlements.
What Are Injuries That May Be Claimed Under Insurance?
Motor vehicle insurance is designed to cover injuries including:
Who’s Responsible for Covering My Injuries?
Ultimately, if your accident and injuries were due to a negligent party, that person or entity is responsible. However,the question often becomes whether there is an insurance policy to cover your lose. Further, there needs to be a determination if there is enough coverage to fairly compensate you for your injuries.
The insurance company of the at-fault driver in the accident should typically bear responsibility. However, in some cases the negligent party does not have insurance or doesn't have enough insurance. If that is the case, your own auto insurance policy's uninsured or underinsured motorist coverages could come into play.
Or further, in some cases there could be multiple parties were involved and they dispute the division of liability. In such cases, ultimate financial liability may prove difficult to initially determine. Accident victims who want to ensure that an insurance company doesn’t successfully evade its responsibilities should talk to a lawyer who handles personal injury claims in Chicago.
What Are Recoverable Claims After an Accident?
Insurance companies that sell motor vehicle policies should provide coverage that anticipates the common damages that arise from car accidents.
- Compensation for medical bills. Insurance should pay for claims for medical care, including emergency transportation, surgery, hospitalization, X-rays, rehabilitative therapy, medication, and, if necessary, long-term treatment.
- Coverage for needed modifications to the home. As you can imagine, anyone with serious injuries or disabilities as a result of an accident may need to make home modifications. There may be a need to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Modifications may include widening doorways, installing ramps, installing specialized bathrooms fixtures, or lowering cabinets and countertops. Insurance should cover the expenses of long-term consequences of the accident, not just the immediate aftermath.
- Pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can prove difficult to quantify monetarily. While financial compensation cannot undo a victim’s injuries, it can make it easier for a victim to move on with life after an accident.
- Lost wages. An accident victim who is forced to miss work because of injuries may recover compensation for lost wages. A permanent disability may cause long-term changes to a victim’s ability to work. A victim has the right to recover for lost earning potential.
- Property damage. Insurance should cover property damage beyond vehicle repair or replacement. It should also cover other property damage, including valuable property within or attached to a vehicle.
How Do Insurance Companies Avoid Paying Full Claims?
Many insurance companies use the same strategies to reduce the amount they must pay out in claims. These may include:
- Shifting responsibility to someone other than their drivers. Insurance companies may attempt to shift liability to the victim or other drivers involved in the accident. Further, they may attempt to claim that other factors were the cause of the accident to reduce their liability.
- Offering a low settlement. Most people have no idea how much the damages from an accident may actually cost them. Often insurance companies try to take advantage of those without a lawyer. Shortly after an accident, the victim may receive a settlement offer. This amount of money will almost always be for significantly less than they really deserve for their injuries and the expenses. If they accept this offer, they may reduce or eliminate any chance of obtaining appropriate compensation in the future.
Should You Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Chicago?
A good lawyer with experience dealing with insurance companies can offer key advantages to an accident victim. Unfortunately for many victims, plaintiffs without counsel are typically unable to get a satisfactory response to their claims. Personal injury attorneys can expedite the process and usually obtain a larger settlement more quickly.
The financial commitment of hiring a lawyer may feel daunting. Moreover, this is especially true for someone who is already dealing with medical bills and other damages from the accident. For that reason, Abels & Annes offers free consultations to discuss cases and potential claims. In addition, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that there is no upfront money for legal fees. The lawyer's fee is a percentage of the financial recovery. This type of agreement ensures that those who are most in need of legal support can get it.
If you’re struggling alone to get the compensation you deserve from the Hartford or any other insurance company after a motor vehicle accident, don’t wait to get legal help.
Contact an experienced lawyer at Abels & Annes as soon as possible. Contact us at
(312) 924-7575 or online to schedule a free consultation today.
Additional Insurance Dispute Resources