How to win your personal injury claim

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Title:

How to win your personal injury claim

ISBN:

9781413328981

Edition:

Eleventh edition.

Physical Description:

420 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Series:

Nolo Press self-help law books.

General Note:

Includes index.

Contents:

Handling your personal injury claim -- Whose fault is it? how legal responsibility is determined -- Initial steps in settling your claim -- Understanding insurance coverage -- How much is your claim for injuries worth? -- Processing your claim -- Property damage claims -- Negotiating a settlement -- Finalizing your settlement -- The last resorts : lawyers, arbitration, and courts -- Working with a lawyer.

Subject Term:

Personal injuries -- United States.

Accident insurance claims -- United States.

Liability insurance claims -- United States.

Workers' compensation -- United States.

Genre:

Law for laypersons

Added Author:

Matthews, J. L., 1946-

Added Corporate Author:

Nolo (Firm)

Summary:

"A guide to handling an injury claim or lawsuit after an accident. It shows how to navigate the claims process, deal with insurance adjusters and get the most out of a claim." --

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake)	346.730323 HOW 2021	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	346.730323 HOW 2021	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

After your injury: Settle your claim the right way When you've been hurt in an accident, the prospect of dealing with insurance companies and lawyers can feel daunting. But armed with the right strategy, you can handle a claim yourself--and save thousands of dollars in the process.

How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim guides you through the insurance claim process, step by step. After almost any kind of accident, you'll learn how to:

figure out what your claim is worth gather the right medical records and accident reports prepare an effective demand letter counter insurance company delay and other common tactics negotiate your way to a full and fair settlement, and stay on top of your case if you hire a lawyer.

This completely updated edition How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim includes the latest state-by-state lawsuit filing deadlines and small claims court limits.

Author Notes

Joseph Matthews is an attorney who has taught at the law school of the University of California, Berkeley. For many years he specialized in personal injury law. He is also the author of the Nolo books Social Security, Medicare Government Pensions and Long-Term Care.

Your Personal Injury Companion	p. 1
Automobile, Cycle, or Pedestrian Accidents	p. 3
Slip or Trip and Fall Accidents	p. 3
Home Accidents	p. 3
Miscellaneous Accidents	p. 4
1 Handling Your Personal Injury Claim	p. 5
Why You Often Can Handle Your Own Claim	p. 8
When You Might Need a Lawyer	p. 9
2 Whose Fault Is It? How Legal Responsibility Is Determined	p. 15
Basic Rules of Legal Responsibility	p. 16
Liability in Specific Types of Accidents	p. 27
3 Initial Steps in Settling Your Claim	p. 73
The First 72 Hours: Protecting Your Rights	p. 74
Getting a Claim Started	p. 86
Special Rules for Accidents Involving the Government	p. 104
4 Understanding Insurance Coverage	p. 119
Motor Vehicle Insurance	p. 121
Nonvehicle Liability Insurance	p. 147
Your Own Health Coverage and Accident Claims	p. 152
No-Fault Laws: State Summaries	p. 155
5 How Much Is Your Claim for Injuries Worth?	p. 159
The Damages Formula	p. 162
How Injuries Affect Compensation	p. 165
Demonstrating Pain and Suffering	p. 173
Lost Income	p. 182
Property Damage	p. 183
Arriving at a Final Compensation Value	p. 184
Examples of How Much Different Claims Are Worth	p. 189
6 Processing Your Claim	p. 199
Collecting Information	p. 200
Preparing a Demand Letter	p. 217
Sample Demand Letters	p. 229
7 Property Damage Claims	p. 251
What Type of Claim to File	p. 252
Amount of Compensation	p. 258
Processing Your Claim	p. 260
Negotiating a Settlement Amount	p. 265
8 Negotiating a Settlement	p. 273
Adjusters: Who They Are and How They Work	p. 274
How the Negotiation Process Works	p. 277
Conducting Negotiations	p. 280
The Subjects of Negotiations With an Adjuster	p. 287
What to Do When You Can't Get a Settlement	p. 305
State Statutes of Limitations	p. 320
9 Finalizing Your Settlement	p. 323
Confirming the Offer and Acceptance	p. 324
Formal Settlement Document	p. 324
What to Do If the Check Doesn't Arrive	p. 328
Liens on Your Settlement Money	p. 331
Taxes on Your Settlement Money	p. 334
10 The Last Resorts: Lawyers, Arbitration, and Courts	p. 335
Small Claims Court	p. 336
Arbitration	p. 350
11 Working With a Lawyer	p. 367
Reasons to Use a Lawyer	p. 368
Finding the Right Lawyer	p. 371
Paying the Lawyer	p. 377
Managing Your Lawyer	p. 384
Trial	p. 389
Appendix
Accident Claim Worksheet	p. 391
Index	p. 399

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