[...]... you might need to do If your claim is too complicated for you to handle yourself, you’ll learn that here, too And the book explains how to work with an attorney if it comes to that These are the types of personal injury claims that you can learn to handle yourself with the help of How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim Automobile, Cycle, or Pedestrian Accidents Whether you make your claim against the... than your employer or a coworker might be partly to blame, you can use this book to seek compensation How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim is your insurance claim companion It sets out all the information you need in order to get a fair settlement from the insurance claims system It will help you to: • protect your interests after an accident • understand what your claim is worth • prepare a claim. .. handling your personal injury claim | 5 injury and a faster resolution to your claim by handling it yourself instead of hiring a lawyer and paying attorney fees And you can certainly receive more than you would if you submitted a claim yourself without knowing how insurance c ­ ompanies and their claims processes work Settling Claims Is Cheaper for Insurers An insurance company’s willingness to settle your. .. no electronic shortcut to finding and choosing among lawyers for your personal injury claim If you decide to use a lawyer, follow the steps in Chapter 11 Those steps will show you how to locate several experienced local lawyers, and how to choose among them based on their experience and the quality of your p ­ ersonal contacts with them chapter 1 | handling your personal injury claim | 7 There are no... process will usually settle the claim with you right away, and for virtually the same amount as if you had a lawyer 6 | how to win your personal injury claim Save Money on Legal Fees If you hire a lawyer to handle your claim, the lawyer will take a fee of up to 40% of your r ­ ecovery—and charge you for “costs” that seem to appear out of thin air and can quickly run into hundreds of dollars Yet, except... by someone other than your ­ mployer e or a coworker Don’t be afraid to pursue your personal injury claim on your own You have all the tools you need right here ● 1 C H A P T E R Handling Your Personal Injury Claim Why You Often Can Handle Your Own Claim 4 The Claims Process Is Simple 5 You Know Your Claim Best 5 The Compensation System Is Structured 5 Save... may be a good idea to take advantage of the experience of a knowledgeable per­ onal s injury lawyer to ensure that you get the highest possible amount, even taking into account that 8 | how to win your personal injury claim the lawyer’s fee will eat up a large part of your final award Example: Your medical bills are $15,000 and you are able to get a settlement offer of $50,000 by yourself, but a lawyer... lawyer to handle, you would be handling it yourself It is important to find a lawyer who can handle your particular kind of claim, and also to find one with whom you are comfortable (See Chapter 11.) The only way to know whether you feel com­ fortable handling your own claim is to understand how compensation amounts are calculated and apply those criteria to your situation to get a rough idea of what your. .. helmet is very important to your claim It shows that you were not “comparatively negligent,” at least as to this aspect of your claim That is, it shows that your injuries were not made worse by your own carelessness And it shows how much worse the injury might have been—and therefore how dangerous the other driver’s conduct was—had you not been wearing a helmet No helmet, no head injury If you suffered... pposition in your claim even if the law in your state does not require you to wear a helmet That is because helmets are known to significantly reduce or prevent head and neck injuries So, your failure to wear a helmet can amount to a kind of “comparative negligence” on your part (See How Your Carelessness Affects Your Claim, ” above.) Bicyclists may still be able to make a successful claim in these . of personal injury claims that you can learn to handle yourself with the help of How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim. Automobile, Cycle, or Pedestrian Accidents Whether you make your claim. someone other than your employer or a coworker might be partly to blame, you can use this book to seek compensation. How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim is your insurance claim companion attorney licensed to practice in your state. Please note 7th Edition How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim By Attorney Joseph L. Matthews SEVENTH EDITION APRIL 2009 Editor EMILY DOSKOW Cover