How Do Insurance Companies Investigate Personal Injury Claims?

At Donaldson Law, LLC, our personal injury attorneys in Denver begin our client relationships by explaining each injury victim’s legal rights and options to pursue the negligent party’s insurance coverage for the best outcome for their unique cases.

That means fully investigating the circumstances of their car crash, premises liability incident, or recreational accident claim to help ensure no detail is left to chance.

The insurance company that represents the negligent party who caused our client’s injuries will also thoroughly investigate the claim in similar ways.

While we focus on pursuing our clients’ best interests, the insurance company will work hard to mitigate their policyholder’s liability to help protect the company’s bottom line.

Here is what our Colorado clients need to know about the personal injury claim process.

How Do Insurance Companies Determine Who is Liable for Colorado Accidents with Injuries?

Depending on where and how our clients’ injuries occurred, we may pursue an auto, homeowners, and business insurance policy for their physical and emotional damages.

In return, the insurance company’s representatives will evaluate the accident to place some of the blame on the injured party, or another third party, to minimize the damages, so they pay less.

Even when it may seem obvious that our client was not at fault for the crash, including cases where our clients were injured by a drunk driver or someone who ran a red light, the insurance company will attempt to uncover any other factors that help lessen their liability.

First, the insurance company may l try to contact the injured person as soon as they are aware an accident with injuries occurred. This call is designed to get them to take some or all the fault for the incident that led to their injuries.

That may include asking questions about how the accident occurred, what type of injuries resulted, whether the injured person is seeking care, and whether they can go back to work.

Next, the insurance company will examine the injured person’s driving record and insurance coverage.

Just as our personal injury attorneys will, the insurance company will request a copy of the police report, witness statements, and any evidence obtained from the scene.

Finally, to learn more about our client’s injuries, the insurance company may request copies of the injured person’s medical records.

Physicians may not supply anyone, even insurance companies, with medical records without the injured individual’s written approval.

Providing access to medical records may significantly damage any personal injury claim, especially if the injured person’s complete medical history is delivered to the insurance company.

Complete medical records may outline a previous injury or preexisting condition that the insurance company may take out of context to argue that the crash or incident did not cause all of our client’s current injuries and medical needs.

If you have been asked to sign a document releasing your medical records to the insurance company, contact our experienced personal injury lawyers in Denver to review the document before signing.

Under Colorado law, insurance companies are not entitled to obtain all unrelated medical records that have nothing to do with the injuries suffered as a result of the accident. Limiting access to all medical records — and only giving specific access to the accident’s injury records — will help ensure the insurance company can only evaluate the current diagnosis and treatment plan.

Insurance Representatives Focus on Lessening Company Liability

Insurance company representatives investigate personal injury claims from a position that protects their employers.

The more severe the injuries, and the larger our client’s financial compensation needs, the firmer the insurance company will focus on limiting their liability and financial exposure.

Common ways insurance companies build their cases is to uncover evidence that supports its contention, including:

• Running background checks on the injured parties to find any potentially damaging information.
• Reviewing the injured person’s social media accounts for behavior that contradicts their injuries.
• Talking to friends, neighbors, family members, or coworkers to help disprove the severity of the injury claim.
• Locating images or witness testimony of the injured person walking without their crutches, skipping doctor’s appointments, or participating in physical activities.

Do not help the insurance company build a case that lessens their liability.

Allow our skilled Denver personal injury attorneys to protect, strengthen, and pursue your complete financial recovery needs, starting with a free consultation.

Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Denver, Colorado Today

If you have been injured because of another person or party’s negligence in Colorado, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers in Denver at Donaldson Law, LLC by calling (303) 458-5000 or contact us online to schedule a free confidential consultation to discuss your case.