The last thing on anyone’s mind when an accident occurs is money! Unfortunately, it also happens to be one of the most important factors in regaining your health and restoring your life to what it was before the event occurred.

Financial problems arise when there are injuries that require time to heal. In fact, some injuries can have a permanent effect on the victim in the form of disability or disfigurement. Medical and rehabilitation expenditure can spiral out of control due to multiple hospitalizations, expensive procedures, medication and treatment regimes.

Additionally, if you’re unable to work during this time, or even permanently, this means a loss of income, wage-earning capacity and a fall in your living standards.

What gives most victims a sense of security and solace is that they’re covered by insurance. Automobile insurance helps victims to restore the damage done to their vehicles and also to recover their health. Since it is mandatory to have insurance for automobiles in most parts of the world, coverage is available in case of a mishap.

Ontario laws mandate that regardless of fault, all those injured in automobile accidents are entitled to receive statutory benefits paid by their own insurers. Additionally, victims can also file a personal injury suit against the at-fault party for negligence/fault that caused the accident if that is the case. Again, it’s the insurance-company of the negligent party that makes the settlement payout. An experienced London personal injury lawyer can assist you.

Issues In Seeking Insurance Settlements

We assume that insurance companies, especially our own, would have our interests at heart. We would also expect them to make a prompt and hassle-free response to our claims if we have provided the necessary paperwork.

However, insurance companies are ultimately for-profit enterprises, which need to safeguard their business interests first. This means they may dispute, deny or dismiss your claim for a variety of reasons, leaving you with no option but to file a personal injury suit against the at-fault party.

Claims May Be Delayed or Denied

Ontario has one of the highest auto insurance premiums in the country even though it has among the lowest accident rates too. This creates stress in consumers when it comes to filing a claim if the insurer decides to contest it.

In other cases, the settlement may be inordinately delayed, leading to a financial crisis for the injured victim and family-members.

Some of the reasons why claims are denied include:

• Misrepresentation of facts
• Suspicion of false or fraudulent claim
• Lack of coverage in policy
• Lack of sufficient proof of negligence by at-fault party
• Insurance company acts in bad faith
• Not adhering to statute of limitations or other time deadlines

Ensuring Stree-Free Claims Settlements

• Know your insurance coverage thoroughly
• Make sure you inform your insurer immediately since there are time-limits to filing a claim
• Provide the right contact information if you’re in a different location
• Maintain an accident journal listing all expenses, treatments and therapies
• Consult a London personal injury lawyer before completing and returning insurance forms
• Meet/Discuss with claims-adjusters only after consulting your London personal injury lawyer
• Preserve all bills/receipts/e-mails/correspondence regarding the accident