DC Catastrophic Injury Insurance Claims

Any individual who has been injured in a catastrophic accident should first immediately seek medical attention at the nearest emergency room as their injuries could be substantial. After attending to any medical needs, the injured person should consider filing an incident claim. Such benefits can be instrumental in paying medical costs or compensating for time off from work and all other damages.

DC catastrophic injury insurance claims can be involved, and a catastrophic injury attorney will be essential in helping streamline the claim process.

Types of Claims

An insurance claim is generally called a third party claim and involves the injured party making a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance carrier. In this way, such a claim involves an insurance carrier other than that of the injured party.

A third party claim is generally the first step in initiating the claims process. If, however, the at-fault party is uninsured or is under-insured, then the injured party has the right to assert a first-party claim with their own insurance carrier. Yet, it is important to note that, if there are third party benefits available, the injured party must first initiate a third party claim before initiating a first party claim.

Determining Value

The type of claim an individual files is not dependent on the type of injury or the nature of the incident.

The value of the insurance claim, however, is dependent upon such factors as the nature and extent of the injuries, the medical treatment involved, the circumstances of the law, and the ages of the parties involved.

Process of Filing a Claim

Filing an insurance claim will put the insurance carrier on notice of the claim and allow the injured party’s attorney to investigate the facts and circumstances of the claim. Filing an insurance claim will also place the carrier on notice of the claim. It is important to note that an individual must file a claim in a timely manner in order to receive benefits. If they fail to do so, such benefits may be waived.

An individual can file an insurance claim by calling the relevant insurance company and putting it on notice of the claim. During this time, the individual will also provide basic information as to the date, time, location, and nature of the incident. This process does not vary depending on the type of claim being filed.

Denied Claims

If a claim is denied, the filer cannot refile the claim in hopes of achieving a different outcome. While the specific next steps after a denied claim are dependent upon the type of claim, generally the injured party must decide whether they wish to initiate a lawsuit.

Working with an Attorney

A qualified and trained injury attorney has considerable experience filing claims in DC for catastrophic injuries and they have experience in working with insurance companies. They will know what steps to take in order to open the claim effectively and to move the claim forward in the best manner possible. This allows this injured person to focus on their recovery, which is the most important thing.