Problems with Your Insurance Claim

Phoenix Lawyers Handling Insurance Claim Problems

Insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind. Although these companies market their services as friendly and helpful, their true goal is to make a profit by denying or minimizing the amount they pay on your claim.

That is why you need an experienced attorney on your side. At Solomon & Relihan, we have been representing injured people throughout Arizona since 1974. We have the in-depth knowledge it takes to pursue all your insurance options and to hold insurance companies accountable for the compensation they owe you after a car accident.

Medical Benefits — When Insurers Come to Collect Healthcare Costs

Many people have medical payments (med-pay) coverage on their car insurance policy. It is an extra benefit for which they have paid a premium. Quite often, they also have heath coverage through Medicare, AHCCCS, or an employment benefits package as well. Unfortunately for the people who pay for med-pay coverage in the belief that they can use it for deductibles, co-pays, and other things that their other health plans don't cover, their other plans will do their best to burn up the med-pay coverage for expenses that they would normally pay (thereby allowing Medicare, AHCCCS, and the employer-provided health plans to save money at the patient's expense). If you have med-pay coverage, our law firm can help you coordinate this coverage with your doctor’s office.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when settling an accident claim yourself is to settle for too little. Many people do not realize that the insurance they have through work or Medicare or AHCCCS may pay the medical expenses initially, but later they will want to be repaid out of the settlement from the at-fault driver's insurance company. The hospital that received payment from Medicare, AHCCCS, or the health coverage will want a piece of the settlement as well. When that happens, the settlement that was enough to cover your out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost wages suddenly seems grossly inadequate — and the other driver's insurance company won't re-open your claim to give you anything more.

That is why it is critical to work with an experienced attorney who has a clear understanding of how your settlement will affect you. At Solomon & Relihan, we have decades of experience in dealing with insurance companies and hospitals that demand reimbursement or extra payment from your settlement. We fight hard to ensure that you get to keep as much of your settlement as possible, and — unlike some firms — Solomon & Relihan will not charge you any additional fees to resolve these post-settlement issues.

When your medical bills exceed your insurance coverage. Because of the high cost of medical treatment, medical bills are often more than the amount of the auto insurance coverage available to pay them. In these cases, we contact providers and negotiate bills down. We also negotiate with physicians for reduced fees. As a well-established law firm, we have been handling these insurance claim problems successfully for more than 30 years.

Should I speak with the insurance company? Do not discuss your case with anyone from an insurance company until you have spoken with your lawyer. Insurance companies may call or write you asking for information or a recorded statement immediately after an accident, before your have had time to know the full extent of your injuries. Get the name, address, and telephone number of the person who calls and tell them to contact your attorney. Then, call us immediately to let us know they have tried to talk with you.

Can I handle my own claim for the property damage to my car? In most cases, you will be able to settle the property damage portion of your auto insurance claim on your own. If your car was totaled in the accident, there are several ways you can get fair market value for your car:

• Classified ads in the newspaper
• Blue book
• Auto Trader Magazine
• Car dealers

Once you have checked your sources, you should have a pretty good idea of the range of value for your car. As your attorneys, we can help with your property damage claim by reviewing any property damage claim documents before you sign them.

Contact Solomon & Relihan

Insurance issues can be more complicated than you ever imagined. The best approach is to work with an experienced attorney. For a free initial consultation with a lawyer about your car accident, contact us by e-mail or by telephone at 602-635-1532. For your convenience, home and hospital visits are available upon request.