Insurance companies are financially responsible for any injuries you incur as a result of their client’s negligence. This means that insurers play a critical, if often reluctant, role in construction accident claims.
In order to receive the damages you deserve, you will need to persuade the insurance company that your claim is legitimate and accurate. A Dallas construction accident lawyer can help you do so by building up your casefile and negotiating hard on your behalf.
The Role the Insurer Plays in Your Construction Accident Claim
When a construction worker like you suffers an injury while working for a non-subscriber employer (that is, an employer who offers no workers’ compensation benefits), you have the right to expect a timely response from the insurer representing those whose negligence contributed to your accident. Such parties might include:
- Your employer
- A product manufacturer or materials supplier
- A maintenance team
- A third-party contractor
- The owner of the property you work on
No matter who is responsible for your accident, they will probably have an insurance policy to cover injury claims.
What Insurers Do After Construction Accidents
As soon as you notify them of the accident, it is the insurer’s job to:
- Investigate your injury by collecting documentation and interviewing involved parties (including you) to figure out what really happened
- Respond to your claim and other communications within a reasonable amount of time, or else provide an explanation for why they are taking so long
- Assess your case’s worth and, if there is disagreement between you and your lawyer on this subject, negotiate for an amount that satisfies both sides
800-285-HURT (4878)Available 24/7 | 356 Days | se habla español
How Insurers May Try to Avoid Paying Your Accident Claim
While some insurance companies may quickly offer settlements for injury claims, others may do what they can to make things more challenging for you. This can be very upsetting if you suffered a severe injury or if you lost a loved one in a construction accident.
It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the kinds of tactics that the insurer may use to reduce the amount of money they pay you. Your lawyer can go over these in more detail and let you know if the insurer in your case shows signs of bad-faith behavior.
Invoking the Construction Accident Statute of Limitations
Each state creates its own deadline for personal injury cases. For instance, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 states that you can only collect compensation if you file a lawsuit within two years of the accident date. Otherwise, you forfeit your right to seek damages.
The insurer may try to claim that you did not file your case in time or missed some other important deadline. A construction accident lawyer can keep careful track of all your filings to prove that you have obeyed the law.
Casting Doubt on Your Construction Accident Injury
You are only entitled to compensation if you can prove certain factors about your case are true—for instance, that your injury occurred on the job, and that the liable party’s negligence caused that injury.
The insurer may try to say that your claim does not meet this threshold. They might suggest that your injuries happened when you were not working, that you contributed to your accident, or that their client’s behavior was not negligent. Your attorney can help you find strong evidence to prove your case.
Asking for a Recorded Statement About the Construction Accident
This may seem like an innocent enough request, but the intent behind it is potentially dangerous for your case. The insurer hopes that, by locking you in to one specific version of events provided to them while you are in pain and under pressure, they will find an inconsistency they can use to deny payment.
Speaking to the insurer alone is always risky. It is a good idea to hire a law firm to speak to them on your behalf and help you craft the right responses to all of the insurance company’s communications.
The Role Lawyers Play in Construction Accident Claims
Insurance companies are large organizations with vast resources at their disposal. Trying to take on an insurer by yourself can be an intimidating proposition, especially when you are worried about supporting your family and trying to recover from a devastating injury.
Construction Accident Lawyers Can Manage Your Entire Case
Personal injury law firms help level the playing field between the insurers and injured parties like you. They can use their education and experience to:
- Inform you of your options and advise you about what decisions you should make
- Represent your interests to the insurance company, the liable party, and any other involved parties
- Investigate your case and collect all of the evidence you need to prove your claim
- Calculate a fair value for your injuries and refuse to back down if the insurer tries to say that your estimate is faulty
- Ease your fears by keeping you apprised of what is happening at all times and answering all of your legal questions
- Making sure that even the smallest tasks, like submitting paperwork and answering phone calls, are completed in a timely and professional manner
How Your Construction Accident Lawyer’s Representation Benefits You
It is understandable to feel nervous about placing such an important legal matter in someone else’s hands. Once you find a law firm you trust, however, letting them take care of everything can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. You are now free to:
- Stop thinking and worrying about your case so often
- Concentrate on receiving the medical care you need
- Spend time with the people who love you and want to help you get better
- Figure out what your life will look like once you have recovered as much as possible
800-285-HURT (4878)Available 24/7 | 356 Days | se habla español
We Can Deal With the Insurer in Your Construction Accident Claim
If you are having trouble dealing with the insurance company in a construction accident claim, call in the Strong Arm. The team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins would be proud to play a central role in fighting for the compensation you need after a preventable workplace injury. Call us today for a free case review.