Hey Doc, Make a Note of This

Over the years, the processes and computer programs used by many insurance companies to evaluate claims has become more and more rigid and systematized. The basis of these programs and systems is the medical records from the injured person's healthcare providers. While this has the advantage of streamlining the process and likely allowing the insurance companies to spend less time with each claim, it creates other problems. Specifically, because the system relies so heavily upon notes made by physicians, it becomes imperative that the client make sure that his or her doctor takes note of everything that is wrong with them. In reality, however often that is not how most doctor visits work. Patients frequently complain only of their most pressing and urgent medical concern, leaving other less urgent matters to be handled at later visits. Many patients, thinking that their body will heal by itself with more time, do not mention certain aches and pains they are hopeful will resolve on their own. And sometimes nurses and doctors fail to note in the records (or properly code) every complaint made by each patient. While this may not create medical problems, it can create significant obstacles in convincing the insurance company to consider those injuries at a later date.

Most people do not want to be whiners and complainers. Most of us are taught to be tough and endure pain without showing it. However, lack of documentation of an injury can create diffcult obstacles in a personal injury case. For good or bad,the methods used by the insurance companies makes finding a qualified and thorough physician and making sure to communicate all of your injuries to that physician cricitcal to being able to defend your claims against attack.

Auto Insurance - Tips

As an attorney I often come to meet people at times when they need help and when they are hurting. Sure we occasionally prepare Wills or draft contracts for clients, but the majority of my clients are personal injury or family members in a death case. What I love most about my job is that I not only get to help individuals with their recovery but that I am part of the system of justice in our society. And while our civil justice system has come under increasing attack, and is by no means perfect, it seems to be the best method for giving the individual citizen of our great land the opportunity to attain justice.

However, the reality is that each person should take steps to protect themselves, because it is all to frequent that the person that negligently injures you has neither the insurance nor the assets to make you whole. I recently handled a case in which my client's medical bills and damages exceeded the liable parties insurance policy by about $20,000.00. In fact, South Carolina currently only requires automobile policies to have $15,000.00 per person of liability coverage. It only takes a short stay in a hospital or a surgery or two and this coverage will be more than exceeded by medical bills.

So what can you do?

The answer for automobile related injuries is fairly simple and usually not very expensive. Underinsured motorist coverage (also known as UIM) is available in South Carolina policies and it covers you when you are in an accident caused by another driver that does not have sufficient insurance coverage to pay your damages. Talk to your insurance agent about increasing your UIM coverage to at least $100,000.00 per person, and preferably more than that. In order to make this increase you will also need to increase your liability coverage, but the cost of the increased UIM coverage is usually quite low.

With the relatively low minimum insurance limits required for drivers in South Carolina and the increasing cost of health care, it makes sense to have your UIM coverage boosted.