What Is the Role of Insurance in Illinois Personal Injury Claims?

Insurance companies play a critical role in Springfield personal injury claims and cases throughout Illinois. Most of the time, the insurance companies determine whether you receive any money for your losses and, if so, how much you get. Understanding the role of insurance companies in Illinois personal injury claims can help you protect your rights and recover fair compensation.

Insurance Companies Are the Middlemen in Illinois Personal Injury Claims

You might think an Illinois personal injury claim is a fight between you and whoever caused your injuries, such as a careless driver who hit your car. That’s technically true, but the insurance companies are the intermediaries in these cases and control the purse strings. That makes them your actual opponent in most cases.

Let’s go back to our hypothetical example of a car accident in Springfield. Suppose the driver rear-ended you, totaling your car and causing you to sustain severe injuries. Though the driver is the one who hit you, you don’t file a claim against them (assuming the driver has insurance). Instead, you file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company. If you prove the other driver’s actions caused the collision, you can recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses.

However, insurance companies make money by paying less for claims than they make from policyholders’ premiums. Therefore, they have a financial incentive to deny your claim or reduce your compensation. For example, an insurance company might argue you caused an accident. In our example of a rear-end collision, the other driver might say you slammed on the brakes without any reason, which caused them to run into you.

Even if an insurance company accepts your account of an accident, they can use other methods to reduce your compensation. For instance, they might say your injuries are the result of a pre-existing injury or condition. An insurance company might also dispute the extent of your lost income or medical expenses if you don’t have documents to support your claim.

Finally, an insurance company might argue you filed a claim too late to recover compensation. The Illinois personal injury statute of limitations gives you two years to file a lawsuit before you lose your right to compensation.

How a Springfield Injury Attorney Helps You Fight the Insurance Companies

Insurance companies have massive resources and teams of lawyers to dispute your claim and prevent you from recovering fair compensation. A Springfield personal injury lawyer is your best ally in your fight against the insurance companies.

Your lawyer can investigate the accident to identify who or what caused it, collect evidence to document your injuries, make sure you submit your claim on time, and counter lowball offers or unfair tactics to deny your claim. While most Illinois personal claims end with an insurance settlement, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and take your case to court if the insurance companies won’t negotiate in good faith.

The attorneys at Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC, have helped countless Illinois residents stand up to the insurance companies and recover fair compensation. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free consultation.