1.3 million fatal accidents happen every year around the globe. Out of which 33,000 and more catastrophic cases are reported every year in the US. Filing compensation for your injuries plays a vital role to take care of your family even after your demise. In most cases, the fatal injuries are more and the victim survives after the car crash too. In such incidences and the prior one, when must one file compensation to avail all benefits? This article will give you a complete idea of the compensation claims and the deadline to file the same.
Personal Injury Claims – Damages That are Included
You can file compensation if any of the mentioned damages have occurred during the accident.
- Paralysis
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Back Injury
- Brain Injuries that are traumatic
- Burns of different levels of severity
- Chest Injury
- Injury to the Neck
- Fractures and Broken Bones
While death compensation is also available, but these are the major cases that shall entitle you to file for the insurance compensation.
Actions to Be taken Immediately After An accident
Though the claims can be filed at a later point in time for various reasons, it is a must that you file a report within 30 days of the accident. It must be submitted to the insurance firm. Let us understand, filing a report and filing compensation are two different aspects. As such, you file a report to inform the insurance company about the accident. Incidentally, this also might help you in the case that shall be filed with regard to the accident.
Even if you are not able to file a report, it is better to allow a family member or a friend to do so. As said earlier, it must be done within 30 day period.
File a Compensation
It is advised to file a compensation a bit late for more benefits. As a part of an insurance claim, you can get compensation for the medical expenses. That means to say, let the medical treatment get over and you can file for the compensation later. At the same time, most of the accidents may cause loss of job, personal problems, personal care is also required. If you file it early, and if the insurance company closes the case by paying you the compensation, you may not get additional benefits if the trouble is prolonging in terms of medical treatment and so on.
You can as such claim for
- Ongoing Medical Expenses
- In-Home health care expenses
- Loss of income and benefits
- Decrease in earning potential due to injury
So, it is recommended to file the compensation later to avail most of the benefits. In fact, you can claim for
- Scarring due to the accidents
- Disfigurement
- Disability – Temporary or Permanent
Houston Car Accident Lawyer These aspects can be identified over time. So, take your time, consult a lawyer and then file for the benefits. Moreover, you can still get more benefits if the accident has made to lose the quality of life and also cause permanent disability.
So, get to know the full extent of your injuries and then go for the compensation. It might be limited if you do so, earlier.
Deadline to File For the Insurance Compensation
Many states have many different timelines for this process. It ranges from one year to 5 to 6 years as well. As such, it might take few months to even more than a year for the medical treatment could get over. You can file a lawsuit within 3 years from the date of the accident. Experts suggest filing it within this time, failing to do so, the insurance company can reject the claim as well. In the process, you are letting go of the person who is the prime reason for the accident too.
Different insurance firms have different timelines to receive the claim report. A few firms may want the report to be filed within 24 hours but gives a lot of time to file for the compensation against insurance. A few others may give you a good amount of time to file the accident report but relatively less time to file for the compensation. Analyze the scenarios and find a perfect insurance company too.
You can delay the compensation claim, but not too long. Once the injuries and implications are identified, file the lawsuit consulting a lawyer, and get the required benefits.