When you are injured in a traffic accident in New Orleans, your world can be turned upside down in a matter of minutes. Another driver’s careless or negligent behavior causes you and your loved ones to be injured. Do you have recourse? Yes, if the other driver was at fault you can pursue that driver to recover compensation for your damages. In most cases, you are seeking compensation from the driver’s insurance company. You must file a claim with the insurance provider to recover money for your damages.
However, it is not always easy to deal with an insurance company. The insurance company does not want to pay high settlement amounts. If your claim is being unfairly delayed or denied, you need to consult a New Orleans car accident attorney. Call 1-800-587-1889 for a free appointment with one of our attorneys. We want to hear your story and explain some of the pitfalls of dealing with an insurance company, including settling a claim before reaching maximum medical improvement.
What is Maximum Medical Improvement?
If you are injured in a car accident, you need time to heal from your injuries. The time it takes to recover from injuries usually depends on the type and severity of the injury. A sprained ankle will typically heal much quicker than a broken ankle that required surgery to repair. Therefore, it may take you much longer to heal after a traffic accident if you suffer a severe injury or you require surgery and physical therapy to recover.
Your physician determines your maximum medical recovery (MMI). MMI is the point at which you have recovered from your injury as much as can be expected given the facts of your medical case. For some accident victims, their MMI results when they have recovered fully from their injuries. However, other victims may never reach full recovery. Therefore, their MMI is reached when the physician concludes that the person will not get any better from continued treatment. In many cases, this means the person will have a permanent disability and require ongoing medical and/or personal care.
Why is MMI So Important to My Accident Claim?
When you settle an accident claim, you release the insurance provider and all parties involved in the accident from further liability. In other words, you cannot go back to these parties later to demand additional money, even if you discover you suffered an additional injury or permanent disability. The amount of money you received for settlement is all you will receive.
Sadly, some car accident victims accept quick settlements from insurance companies that are trying to obtain a release before the individual realizes he or she may require future medical care or incur future loss of income. By settling quickly, the insurance company pays a lower amount to get rid of the claim, but the victim receives much less than the claim is worth.
While it may be tempting to accept a quick settlement when you are out of work and facing substantial medical bills, accepting this settlement before reaching MMI can mean you are stuck with substantial expenses in the future. Our New Orleans car accident attorney works closely with your physicians to determine the point of MMI before we begin settlement negotiations with the insurance provider. It is our goal to recover the maximum compensation available in your case to give you the funds you need to recover after a terrible car accident.
Call a Trusted New Orleans Car Accident Attorney Today
Call Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm at (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to request a free consultation with a New Orleans accident attorney.